The mid-summer rise in parasite numbers can cause significant worm burdens and production loss if left unmanaged
Worm control: is it time to treat the sheep?
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Beat the parasites
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The Beat The Parasites series from Boehringer Ingelheim offers information, advice and best practice guidance on all aspects of parasite control - as well as showing how you, the farmers, deal with the parasite burden on farm.
Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim explains what to look out for, and how to manage what could be a challenging grazing season
Delayed turnout changes worm control this season
Pasture management is one of the most effective ways to reduce parasite load in cattle, and some alternative paddock and grass-utilisation strategies can also be useful in overall parasite management
Paddock management for parasite control
Videos
The season ahead: Turnout
Five steps to control parasites in cattle at housing
Improve lungworm management to protect health and productivity
A lack of forward planning can make parasite control more difficult, so take time this winter to prepare for worm and fluke control at turnout and the coming grazing season
Parasite watch - Planning for parasite control
Turnout provides the chance to minimise parasite challenge to youngstock, thereby reducing the impact of parasites on weight gain, growth and fertility, says Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim
Parasite Watch
Beat The Parasites
Warm and wet weather this summer has raised the risk of lungworm infections in at-risk cattle
Summer showers raise lungworm risk
Products from Boehringer Ingelheim
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-on for Cattle
IVOMEC® Classic Injection for Cattle
EPRINEX® Pour-On for Beef and Dairy Cattle
ORAMEC® Drench
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-On is the original ivermectin wormer for cattle. Effective against internal and external parasites.
ORAMEC®, the pioneer ivermectin sheep drench, with three decades of proven roundworm control delivering value for sheep farmers.
IVOMEC® Classic Injection is the original ivermectin wormer for cattle. Effective against internal and external parasites.
EPRINEX®, the first dairy and beef eprinomectin wormer with zero-milk withhold, with over two decades of effective control of important gutworms and lungworm.
Learn more
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and wellbeing of companion animals and livestock. As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and wellbeing of both.
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Other products from Boehringer Ingelheim
IVOMEC SUPER, broad-spectrum, dual-active control of roundworms, liver fluke and external parasites, using the pioneer ivermectin brand plus clorsulon.
IVOMEC® Super Injection for Cattle
IVOMEC Classic Pour-On is the original ivermectin wormer for cattle. Effective against internal and external parasites.
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-on for cattle
EPRINEX, the first dairy and beef eprinomectin wormer with zero-milk withhold, with over two decades of effective control of important gutworms and lungworm.
ORAMEC, the pioneer ivermectin sheep drench, with three decades of proven roundworm control delivering value for sheep farmers.
Turnout provides the chance to minimise parasite challenge to youngstock, thereby reducing the impact of parasites on weight gain, growth and fertility, says Sioned Timothy, technical services manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
The season ahead: Lungworm
Beat The Parasites: Bulk Milk Testing
Autumn fluke control: best practice in an evolving landscape
How to make better worm control choices in cattle this year
IVOMEC® Super Injection, the pioneer broad spectrum, dual-active anthelmintic containing ivermectin and clorsulon, proven to control roundworms, liver fluke and external parasites.
From mid-July, pastures grazed since turnout will be increasingly infected with worm larvae, which can lead to significant worm burdens in youngstock and other high-risk cattle unless effective control plans are in place
Weigh up the worm risk
EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. IVOMEC® Classic Pour-On for cattle and IVOMEC® Classic Injection for cattle contain ivermectin. IVOMEC® Super injection for cattle contains ivermectin and clorsulon. ORAMEC® Drench contains ivermectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone. Further information available in the SPCs or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. IVOMEC®, EPRINEX®, ORAMEC®, the Ramshead® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2024 All rights reserved. Date of preparation: May 2024. UI-MSP-0018-2024. Use Medicines Responsibly.
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and wellbeing of companion animals and livestock. As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and wellbeing of both.
The Season Ahead: Mid-Summer Rise In Parasites
A lack of forward planning can make parasite control more difficult, so take time this winter to prepare for worm and fluke control at turnout and the coming grazing season.
Boehringer Ingelheim offers five top tips on how best to plan parasite control on-farm:
IVOMEC® CLASSIC Pour-On for cattle contains ivermectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. IVOMEC® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2024 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jan 2024. UI-BOV-0005-2024. Use Medicines Responsibly
Related product from Boehringer Ingelheim
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-on is a tried and tested wormer that treats and provides protection against reinfection with the most pathogenic gutworm species, Ostertagia ostertagi for up to 21 days, and the cattle lungworm for up to 28 days.
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-on
3. Set reminders to regularly collect dung from youngstock for pooled faecal egg count tests during the first half of the grazing season to help you monitor changes in worm burdens and assess the level of egg shed onto pasture.
1. Re-test cattle for liver fluke before turnout and treat if results are positive. Preventing egg output in spring helps to break the liver fluke lifecycle and reduces pasture infectivity later in the season.
2. Consider your farms risk of lungworm and whether susceptible cattle would benefit from being vaccinated before turnout.
4. Regularly weigh youngstock during the grazing season and compare to average daily live-weight targets. Where nutrition is sufficient, a gutworm burden is the likely cause of missed targets. Individual animals can then be identified for a worm treatment.
5. Look at your pasture rotation and consider optimising this to minimise worm infectivity in the most susceptible animals. Plan when silage aftermaths and other clean grazing will become available and prioritise this for calves and youngstock.
Boehringer Ingelheim working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and wellbeing of companion animals and livestock. As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and wellbeing of both.
Pasture management is one of the most effective ways to reduce parasite load in cattle, and some alternative paddock and grass-utilisation strategies can also be useful in overall parasite management.
Fewer animals per hectare reduces the need for cattle to graze close to dung pats, where there will be a higher proportion of infective parasite larvae.
Reduce stocking density
Prevent over-grazing to reduce the quantity of worm larva ingested. 80 percent of parasites are concentrated in the first 5cm of grass so move cattle on to longer grass before it's eaten down to an extreme.
Move cattle
Adult cattle have usually developed a good immunity to worms. They can better tolerate worm infections and excrete lower quantities of worm eggs than calves and youngstock. Grazing first-season animals alongside older animals reduces their exposure to worm larvae on the pasture.
Mixed-age grazing
Where paddocks can be rotated, allow the most-susceptible animals (usually calves) to graze ahead of older cattle. This provides calves with the least-infected paddocks, while older cattle are more able to tolerate increasing worm infectivity.
Leader follower
Moving youngstock to fields after the last cut of silage can be a useful method to mitigate the mid-summer rise in parasites on pasture.
Use silage aftermath
Regardless of the paddock management employed, regular pooled faecal egg count tests (FECs) can be a useful tool to assess the amount of larvae being shed onto pasture over the first few months of the grazing period, and along with regular weighing of youngstock, can help with decisions on whether animals require a worm treatment or not.
Faecal egg count tests
Turnout provides the chance to minimise parasite challenge to youngstock, thereby reducing the impact of parasites on weight gain, growth and fertility, says Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim.
1. Avoid repeatedly using the same pastures for youngstock, especially at turnout. Instead, where possible, use pasture which was not grazed by cattle during the previous season. Resting paddocks can help to break worm and liver fluke lifecycles. 2. Plan your grazing for the season. Allow calves and first- and second-season grazers to use the cleanest, least infected pastures first, followed by adult cows. 3. Make good use of silage aftermath. These fields will have low levels of worm larvae, so schedule to move youngstock to these fields when they become available.
4. Control pasture contamination at turnout. Ensure any cattle housed over winter have had an effective wormer treatment, and a fluke treatment if possible, to reduce the shedding of worm and fluke eggs onto the pasture. 5. Support effective immunity building. Allow young cattle to gain exposure to worms at a low level to trigger an immune response, taking care that the challenge is not so high it causes disease or production loss. Consider vaccination for lungworm if you have had recent outbreaks. Talk to your vet or suitably qualified person for more information about how to use grazing management to improve parasite control, or visit the Beat the Parasites website.
Watch the webinar
Find out more about how pasture management can support sustainable parasite control in our recent webinar with vets Rob Howe, of LLM Farm Vets, and Kath Aplin, of Boehringer Ingelheim. Watch on demand to discover pasture management techniques to reduce the parasite challenge in cattle and on the pasture, and how to use diagnostic tests like faecal egg counts to help you decide whether your animals need worming.
Sign up for more webinars
2. Plan your grazing for the season. Allow calves and first- and second-season grazers to use the cleanest, least infected pastures first, followed by adult cows.
3. Make good use of silage aftermath. These fields will have low levels of worm larvae, so schedule to move youngstock to these fields when they become available.
5. Support effective immunity building. Allow young cattle to gain exposure to worms at a low level to trigger an immune response, taking care that the challenge is not so high it causes disease or production loss. Consider vaccination for lungworm if you have had recent outbreaks. Talk to your vet or suitably qualified person for more information about how to use grazing management to improve parasite control, or visit the Beat the Parasites website.
Target species - Cattle Important gastrointestinal roundworms including adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia spp. Adult and L4 stages of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparous Sarcoptic and chorioptic mange mites Sucking and biting lice Warbles (parasitic stages) Persistent activity:
Treats and Controls
Up to 28 days control of reinfection with O. ostertagi and D. viviparous Up to 21 days control of reinfection with Cooperia spp.
May be used in dairy cattle during all stages of lactation. For more information please refer to the SPC Proven to overcome the production limiting effects of gutworm burdens
Features and Benefits
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Product Datasheet
Download
How to apply EPRINEX® Pour-On
Prescribing Information
EPRINEX® Pour-On for Beef and Dairy Cattle contains eprinomectin. The product is indicated for treatment and control of multiple gastrointestinal roundworms; lungworm (adults and L4); warbles; mange mites and lice. Legal category: POM-VPS.
References 1. Kynetec Data, April 2019 2. Forbes et al. (2004) Veterinary Parasitology 125:353-364 3. McPherson WB et al. (2001) New Zealand Veterinary Journal 49:106-110 4. McPherson WB et al. (1999) Proc AAVP, New Orleans 5. Gogolewski et al. (1997) Veterinary Parasitology 69:95-102
Cows eat up to an extra 1kg dry matter per day(2) Delivers increased milk yield of up to 2L per cow per day(3) Improvements in fertility including shorter calving to conception intervals and higher pregnancy rates(4)
• • •
Withdrawal Period
Administration
1ml/10kg Dose guide: This table is included as a guide - cattle that fall between the weights listed should have their dose calculated appropriately
Dose Rate
Should be applied topically by pouring along the backline in a narrow strip extending from the withers to the tailhead
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Meat – 15 days Milk – 0 days
EPRINEX® - the first dairy and beef eprinomectin wormer with zero-milk withhold was launched over two decades ago and is still highly effective today. Available in: 1L, 2.5L, 5L
Eprinex Volume of Evidence
Downloadable content
Weather-fast formulation(5)
Milk from cows may be used for human consumption at any time following treatment
Product Details
IVOMEC® Super Injection, the pioneer broad spectrum, dual-active anthelmintic containing ivermectin and clorsulon, proven to control roundworms, liver fluke and external parasites
Product details
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IVOMEC® Classic Injection
Before turnout it’s crucial to make a parasite control plan to protect your cattle over the coming grazing season.
Target species - Cattle Important gastrointestinal roundworms including adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia ostertagi and adult and L4 stages of Cooperia spp. Adult and L4 stages of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparous Sarcoptic and chorioptic mange mites Sucking and biting lice Warbles (parasitic stages) and eyeworm (adult) Persistent activity:
Up to 28 days control of reinfection with D. viviparus Up to 21 days control of reinfection with O. ostertagi Up to 14 days control of reinfection with Cooperia spp. Up to 35 days control of reinfection with horn fly (Haematobia irritans)
Proven to overcome the production limiting effects of gutworm burdens
• • • •
How to apply IVOMEC® Classic Pour-on
Increases body weight gain and improves reproductive performance(1), (2) Improves productivity in calves reared by treated cows(3) Reduces the economic impact of parasite disease(2) Faster growth to critical minimal heifer breeding weight(4)
1ml/10kg This table is included as a guide - cattle that fall between the weights listed should have their dose calculated appropriately
Should be applied topically along the mid-line of the back in a narrow strip between the withers and tailhead
Meat and offal – 15 days
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-On is the original ivermectin wormer for cattle which has been tried and trusted by farmers for over 30 years. Since 1988, more than 3,000 scientific publications show ivermectin’s efficacy against internal and external parasites. Available in: 1L, 2.5L, 5L
Only 15 days meat withdrawal period(5)
Product Brochure
Do not use in cattle producing milk for human consumption Do not use in non-lactating dairy cows, including pregnant heifers, within 60 days of calving
References 1. Ciordia et al. (1984) American Journal of Veterinary Research 45:2455-2457 2. Wohlgemuth & Melanco (1988) Agri-Practice 9:23-26 3. Larson (1994) Kansas Agricultural 94:189-197 4. Ryan & Guerrero (1987) Agri-Practice 8:32-34 5. The BRP Cattle and Sheep Parasite Control Product Guide, 2016, AHDB Beef & Lamb
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-On contains ivermectin. For the treatment and control of multiple gastrointestinal roundworms; lungworm (adults and L4); warbles (parasitic stages); eye worms (adult); mange mites and lice. Legal category: POM-VPS.
IVOMEC® Super, broad-spectrum, dual-active control of roundworms, liver fluke and external parasites, using the pioneer ivermectin brand plus clorsulon.
Target species - Cattle Important gastrointestinal roundworms including adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia ostertagi, and adult and L4 stages of Cooperia spp. Adult and L4 stages of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparous Psoroptes ovis, Sarcoptes scabei var. bovis mange mites Warbles and adult eye worms Sucking lice An aid in the control of chorioptic mange and biting lice Persistent activity - control of reinfection:
Up to 28 days with D. viviparus Up to 21 days with O.ostertagi Up to 14 days with Cooperia spp.
Effective against internal/external parasites of cattle and sheep
• • • • • • • •
How to apply IVOMEC® Classic Injection
IVOMEC® Classic Injection for cattle and sheep contains ivermectin. The product is indicated for treatment and control of multiple gastrointestinal roundworms; lungworm (adults and L4); eye worms; warbles (parasitic stages); mange mites and sucking lice. Legal category: POM-VPS.
References 1. Cowin (1997) Veterinary Parasitology 72, 451-460 2. Loyacano et al (2002) Veterinary Parasitology 107, 227-234 3. Genchi et al. (2008) Veterinary Parasitology 158:110-116
Reduces the economic impact of parasites(1) Help maximise productivity and reproductive performance in young cattle(2)
Cattle – 1ml/50kg Sheep – 0.5ml/25kg For treatment of clinical signs of sheep scab and elimination of mites give two injections with a 7 day interval These tables are included as a guide - animals that fall between the weights listed should have their dose calculated appropriately
Subcutaneous injection under the loose skin in front of, or behind, the shoulder in cattle and in the neck in sheep
Cattle (meat & offal) – 49 days
IVOMEC® Classic Injection is the original ivermectin injectable wormer for cattle which has been tried and trusted by farmers for over 30 years. Since 1988, more than 3000 scientific publications show ivermectin’s efficacy against internal and external parasites. Available in: 200ml, 500ml
Can be used in breeding animals without affecting fertility, (but follow withdrawal period information) and all ages of animals including young lambs and calves Not affected by rain, so cattle can be treated regardless of weather conditions Proven to deliver better efficacy and improved growth rates versus a generic ivermectin product(3)
Target species - Sheep Important gastrointestinal roundworms including adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia (Teledorsagia) circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus, adult and L4 stages of Cooperia curticei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, adult stages of Trichostrongylus axei and Trichuris ovis Adult and L4 stages of the sheep lungworm, Dictyocaulus filaria Psoroptic mange mites (sheep scab)
Do not use in lactating cows producing milk for human consumption Do not use in non-lactating dairy cows including pregnant dairy heifers within 60 days of calving
Sheep (meat & offal) – 37 days
Do not use in lactating sheep producing milk for human consumption
For cattle weighing over 400kg calculate the dose at the rate of 1ml per 50kg bodyweight
For sheep weighing over 100kg calculate the dose at the rate of 0.5ml per 25kg bodyweight
Reduces the economic impact of parasites[1] Help maximise productivity and reproductive performance in young cattle[2]
Target species - Cattle Adult liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica Important gastrointestinal roundworms including adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia ostertagi and adult and L4 stages of Cooperia spp. Adult and L4 stages of the cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparous Sarcoptic and psoroptic mange mites, and sucking lice An aid in the control of chorioptic mange and biting lice Warbles (parasitic stages) and eyeworms (adult) Persistent activity:
Up to 28 days control of reinfection with D. viviparus Up to 21 days control of reinfection with O. ostertagi Up to 14 days control of reinfection with Cooperia spp.
Provides persistent protection against roundworms, including lungworm Highly effective against adult fluke - the most pathogenic stage in cattle Helps control external parasites Subcutaneous injection - not affected by rain, so cattle can be treated regardless of weather conditions
How to apply IVOMEC® Super Injection
1ml/50kg This table is included as a guide - cattle that fall between the weights listed should have their dose calculated appropriately
Subcutaneous injection under the loose skin in front of, or behind, the shoulder Divide doses greater than 10 mls between two injection sites
Cattle (meat and offal) – 66 days Animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption during treatment Do not use in cattle producing milk for human consumption Do not use in non-lactating dairy cows including pregnant heifers within 60 days of calving
IVOMEC® Super is the pioneer ivermectin brand, plus clorsulon for liver fluke, that has been relied on for thirty years and is still relied on today. A broad-spectrum, dual-active parasite control, used by thousands of farmers to help improve the health and performance of their cattle. Available in: 50ml, 200ml, 500ml, 1L
IVOMEC® Super Injection
Farmer Story: IVOMEC® Super - Pedigree Beef - Moore's Livestock
IVOMEC® Super Injection for cattle contains ivermectin and clorsulon. The product is indicated for the treatment and control of multiple gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworm (adults and L4), liver fluke (adult), eye worms (adult), warbles (parasitic stages), mange mites and sucking lice. It may also be used as an aid in the control of biting lice (Damalinia bovis) and the mange mite Chorioptes bovis, but complete elimination may not occur. Legal category: POM-VPS.
Target species -Sheep Important gastrointestinal roundworms including:
Adult, L4 and inhibited L4 stages of Ostertagia (Teledorsagia) circumcincta and Haemonchus contortus Adult and L4 stages of Cooperia spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Nematodirus spp. and Strongyloides papillosus Adult Chabertina ovina Adult and L4 stages of the sheep lungworm, Dictyocaulus filaria Nasal bots (all larval stages)
Short 6 day meat withdrawal period - no other ivermectin drench has a shorter withdrawal(1) Ewes may be treated at any stage of pregnancy or lactation provided that the milk is not used for human consumption (See withdrawal period section below) Suitable for use in sheep of all ages
• • • • •
How to apply ORAMEC® Oral Drench
References 1. The BRP Cattle and Sheep Parasite Control Product Guide, 2016, AHDB Beef & Lamb
2.5ml/10kg
Oral administration with an oral drenching device
Sheep (meat) – 6 days Do not use in lactating animals producing milk for human consumption. If milk is to be used for human consumption animals should not be treated within 60 days prior to the commencement of lactation
ORAMEC®, the pioneer ivermectin sheep drench with over three decades of proven value for sheep farmers. Available in: 1L, 2.5L, 5L
ORAMEC® Drench contains ivermectin. The product is indicated for treatment and control of gastro-intestinal nematodes, lungworm and nasal bots of sheep. Legal category: POM-VPS.
This year’s delayed turnout could bring potential benefits for worm control in cattle, but worm burdens could still negatively impact productivity and profits if proper management and monitoring isn’t implemented. “The good news for many producers is that the delayed turnout may have resulted in some overwintered worm larvae dying off. This will have reduced pasture contamination by the time cattle were eventually turned out this spring, and subsequently reduced any early worm infection,” says Ms Timothy. “However, this might not be the case for everyone. If you had to change grazing plans because of wet or damaged pastures, any youngstock that couldn’t be turned out onto clean pastures will still be at risk of parasitic disease and production loss.” Calves and first-season grazing youngstock are the highest-risk category of cattle for worm infections, and should be prioritised for the cleanest pasture on the farm. This is important, since preventing high worm burdens and subsequent egg shed onto pasture, lessens the risk of worm scours later in the summer and prevents a knock to growth rates – and subsequent finishing times or bulling age.
Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim explains what to look out for, and how to manage what could be a challenging grazing season.
“This is going to be an unpredictable year for worm control, and it could pose more challenges than usual” suggests Ms Timothy. “This is primarily because pasture contamination dynamics are going to be different. The usual mid-summer rise where you see worm larvae peak on pasture may come later, or may not be as high as you’d expect. This will mean changes to worm control programmes, not only to treat high burdens when they occur, but to avoid worming unnecessarily or at the wrong time.” Avoiding unnecessary or poorly timed wormer treatments is vital, since inappropriate use can drive wormer resistance. Worm egg output from youngstock can be a helpful indicator of pasture contamination in the early part of the grazing season, and provide valuable information to help inform later treatment decisions. “If you haven’t done any worm egg counts before, this is the year to start,” says Ms Timothy.
Unpredictable year
“Faecal egg counts (FECs) are really worthwhile and allow you to be much more precise with your treatment timings. This will ensure you achieve maximum impact from treatments, and also helps to reduce the risk of driving wormer resistance. “Treating too soon in the summer, before youngstock have developed significant worm burdens, means you may treat some cattle unnecessarily. But leaving it too late can be worse; there’s a risk of animals carrying very high worm burdens, with the resulting impact on their productivity, as well as heavily contaminating the pasture,” Ms Timothy explains. Pooled dung samples from each group of calves or first-season grazers should be taken periodically, ideally every two to three weeks, from turnout until around mid-summer. As the season progresses you can monitor the egg output, and as levels increase you can start to assess whether, and when, any treatment is likely to be needed. Your vet or Suitably Qualified Person at your local agricultural merchant will be able to provide you with testing kits and instructions on sample collection, and help you interpret the results from the lab and make recommendations on any action you should take. Wormer brands Ivomec® Classic Pour On and Eprinex® Pour On are suitable options for mid-summer worm treatments, targeting the most pathogenic roundworm species including gutworms Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia spp. and the cattle lungworm. It’s important to note that FECs are only useful in calves and first-season grazers, because they become less reliable as cattle age and immunity develops. They also can’t be used to determine worm burdens in individual animals. However, they are valuable if carried out regularly to assess trends, rather than as single, one-off tests.
Ideal time to test
“The watch-out for everyone this summer, is that any prolonged hot or dry spell could make worm control more tricky,” warns Ms Timothy. “If worm larvae die-off on pasture and the group are still treated, you run the increased risk of selecting highly for resistance, with a reduced diversity of worm genetics on the pasture. Changing our worming practices can help leave some non-resistant worms in refugia while still protecting overall productivity. “To achieve this, consider leaving a proportion of animals untreated. They can be identified by tracking average daily liveweight gains over the grazing period. Any individuals that aren’t making targets, in the absence of any other illness and where sufficient nutrition is available, are likely to be impacted by a high worm burden and should be selected for treatment. A small proportion of well-performing animals can be left untreated without exposing them to significant risk, and the benefits of doing so considerably reduces the likelihood of selecting for resistance.
Watch the weather
Ask your vet for a FEC test. Targeting fresh dung pats, take a teaspoon full of dung from three separate areas of 12 to 15 fresh pats and place into a plastic sample pot or small zippered plastic sandwich bag. Fill the pot to the brim, pushing the dung down to ensure all air bubbles have been expelled. When using bags, lay the bag flat and squeeze out the air from the top of the bag before closing. This will help stop the eggs from developing. Ensure lids and bag zips are securely fastened to prevent spillages! Label each pot or bag with cattle group name and send to the lab or your vet as soon as possible using the provided instructions. Refrigerate if this cannot be done immediately.
How to take a faecal egg count sample
Jim Hopkins, Clinical Director at Steffan Veterinary Services in Lampeter, says the delayed turnout has already had a huge impact on cattle producers in his area. It was an early housing because of the wet autumn, and turnout was delayed by four to six weeks, so it’s been a very long winter here in West Wales. The result has been significant changes and challenges to grazing plans, with some fields not being grazed as soon as expected. These fields will now come back into the rotation later than planned, delaying the ability to move cattle later in the summer. On mixed holdings, sheep got a head-start on the cattle and have eaten quite a bit of the grass that would have been available, resulting in changes to paddock availability for youngstock.
Vet opinion
Compounding this is a delay in the first cut of silage by up to three weeks, which means silage aftermath that is usually used for youngstock to reduce worm burdens from mid-summer, won’t be available until a lot later than normal. This could have implications for managing worm burdens later in the year. The uncertainty of overwintered worm larvae survival on pasture means we’re not sure whether the warm and wet weather this spring will result in rapid infection from contaminated pastures. Testing is really the only way we’re going to understand what’s happening to worm populations on the pasture and in cattle. I’m advising clients to perform pooled FECs on their youngstock from three to four weeks after turnout and repeat at intervals of less than four weeks. To get a representative sample, I always suggest taking 10 to 15 dung samples, and avoiding the extremely hard and extremely wet pats. Once egg counts start to go up and we’re seeing 150 eggs per gram, we know that it’s time to treat. Ultimately, we need to ensure we’re treating at the right time; not too early and not too late. And only treating when we really need to – to avoid driving wormer resistance and to limit the impact of anthelmintics on the environment.
“If you haven’t done any worm egg counts before, this is the year to start”
Sioned Timothy, Technical Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim
1. Avoid repeatedly using the same pastures for youngstock, especially at turnout. Instead, where possible, use pasture which was not grazed by cattle during the previous season. Resting paddocks can help to break worm and liver fluke lifecycles.
Warm and wet weather this summer has raised the risk of lungworm infections in at-risk cattle.
EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jul 2023. UI-BOV-0091-2023. Use medicines responsibly.
EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle is the first dairy and beef eprinomectin wormer with zero-milk withhold was launched over 21 years ago. Market-leading beef and dairy wormer.
EPRINEX® Pour-On
Producers should pay close attention to youngstock, particularly calves and heifers in their first grazing season, even if they were vaccinated before turnout. Vaccine-derived immunity to lungworm can wane over the season and can be overcome when cattle are faced with a high lungworm challenge. Be alert to any signs of coughing in all ages of cattle. Adult cows can still be affected where immunity has not been ‘topped up' during the grazing season. Often the most obvious sign of a lungworm infection is a deep, harsh cough, and in some cases, laboured breathing. Affected animals may also experience a rapid loss in body condition, and in dairy cows, a sudden drop in milk production. They may also be observed resting more frequently and eating and drinking less than normal.
Rapid diagnosis and treatment is necessary to prevent long-lasting damage to lung tissue and subsequent lifetime production losses. The whole herd or group must be treated, ideally with an anthelmintic which offers prolonged activity against lungworm and prevents reinfection to help the lungs recover. Anthelmintics with a zeromilk withhold period, such as EPRINEX®, can allow lactating dairy cows to be treated for lungworm, without the loss of milk sales.
ORAMEC® Drench is a tried and tested ivermectin wormer with a class-leading six-day meat withhold that treats key roundworm species in sheep, as well as lungworm and nasal bots.
From mid-July, pastures grazed since turnout will be increasingly infected with worm larvae, which can lead to significant worm burdens in youngstock and other high-risk cattle unless effective control plans are in place.
IVOMEC® CLASSIC Pour-On for cattle contains ivermectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. IVOMEC® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jun 2023. UI-MSP-0046-2023. Use medicines responsibly.
IVOMEC® CLASSIC Pour-On for cattle is a tried and tested wormer that treats and provides protection against reinfection with the most pathogenic gutworm species, Ostertagia ostertagi for up to 21 days, and the cattle lungworm for up to 28 days.
IVOMEC® Classic Pour-On
Calves and young cattle in their first or second grazing season will have little or no immunity to gutworms. They are at risk of developing high worm burdens leading to clinical disease in the form of gastroenteritis, or ‘worm scours' which can cause significant weight loss. But even where scouring is absent, sub-clinical worm burdens can slow growth and delay finishing times, or age at first calving, ultimately leading to reduced productivity and profitability. Setting growth targets and weighing youngstock regularly through the year, including while at-grass, can help identify when worm burdens are impacting an individual animal's performance.
Where youngstock are tracking against anticipated growth targets, and in the absence of clinical signs of a worm burden, they may not need to be wormed. However, any animals with access to adequate nutrition and who are failing to meet targets, are likely to be carrying a high worm burden and will benefit from a wormer treatment. If regular pooled faecal egg counts have been used during the early part of the grazing season, and treatment was implemented to prevent a high level of eggs being shed on to the pasture, the risk of infection facing cattle on the same pasture should have been minimised. Moving cattle on to cleaner pastures during mid-summer can reduce the worm challenge, and lessen the need for wormer treatments. However, if animals are being wormed around this time, it's important to not ‘dose and move', since this can rapidly select for wormer resistance.
The mid-summer rise in parasite numbers can cause significant worm burdens and production loss if left unmanaged.
ORAMEC® Drench contains ivermectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone. Further information available in the SPCs or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. ORAMEC® and the Ramshead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2024 All rights reserved. Date of preparation: May 2024. UI-MSP-0018-2024. Use Medicines Responsibly.
From mid-June onwards, lambs grazing permanent pasture will be exposed to the summer peak in worm larvae infectivity. This mid-summer rise in parasite numbers can cause significant worm burdens and production loss if left un-managed. Actions at this time of year should be considered carefully, aiming to minimise the risk of driving wormer resistance, as well as protect production. Growth rates offer a useful insight into likely worm burdens in individual lambs. Regular body condition monitoring and weighing can help to target worm treatments at only those lambs that are failing to meet expected growth rates. In general, only 40-60 per cent of lambs require worming. A proportion of lambs in good body condition, without clinical signs of parasitism can therefore be left untreated. This helps reduce selection for resistance.
For farms new to targeted selective treatments, start by leaving 10-20 per cent of lambs untreated whilst your confidence in this approach grows. Pooled faecal egg counts (FECs) can also be used to assess worm burdens in lambs mid-summer and help identify whether it's time to move lambs onto cleaner pastures and/or give a worm treatment. Moving weaned lambs onto paddocks with low levels of worm larvae contamination during July and August will reduce worm infection and the need to treat, while supporting good growth. However, to avoid selecting heavily for resistance, do not dose immediately prior to moving. If treatment is required, ORAMEC® Drench is a tried and tested ivermectin wormer with a class-leading six-day meat withhold that treats key roundworm species in sheep, as well as lungworm and nasal bots.
