6 tips for a good livestock parasite control plan

January is the best time for livestock farmers to plan out a parasite control strategy for the year ahead.

A robust and practical programme will help reduce disease burdens, economic costs and selection for anthelmintic resistance, according to National Animal Disease Information Service (Nadis).

You can get help on starting a parasite control plan by:

• Planning with veterinary advice
• Reading the Cows or SCOPS information
• Consulting the Nadis control planner – planners are free but only available through vets 
• Doubling up: Incorporate parasite control into seasonal activities such as weaning, turnout, housing and shearing

See also: Health experts launch new aids for parasite control

Here are six tips to help with your planning.

1. Consider seasonal risk and farm history of disease

• Think about issues you have had in the past and when these occurred.
• Use the Nadis parasite forecast to highlight specific seasonal and regional parasite risks.

2. Identify at-risk animals

• Younger animals are, in general, more susceptible to parasitic diseases, particularly calves and lambs entering their first and potentially second grazing season.

3. Choose and rotate anthelmintic products

• Make sure you are familiar with:
  1) the available products
  2) active ingredients (see Scops PDF)
  3) indications for use

4. Undertake diagnostic and performance testing

• Diagnostic tests such as worm egg counts provide useful information when deciding treatment and pasture management options.
• Performance testing (looking at daily liveweight gain) can also help provide a more targeted approach to worm control by identifying the worst affected animals.
• Diagnostics and performance tests can identify issues before they become severe, reduce anthelmintic resistance and improve dosing times.

5. Ensure biosecurity and quarantine measures are in place

• Newly purchased animals should be treated and held prior to turnout to pastures to prevent introducing anthelmintic resistance on the farm.

6. Identify “safe” and “contaminated” grazing

• Contaminated pastures are those that have been grazed by infected animals early in the year or in the previous season.
• Safe pastures have not been previously grazed, such as newly reseeded leys and silage and hay aftermaths.
• Pastures previously grazed by sheep and generally safe for cattle and vice-versa.