Angus — The Business Breed


Sign up!

Quick links:

Share the EXTRA

Connect with
our community:

Follow us on twitterJoin us on Twitter





Bookmark and Share

Why Treat the Cow?

Parasites can draw down cows in body condition and affect immunity and reproductive performance.

When cow-calf producers think about management efforts to boost herd fertility and reproduction, parasite control may not be at the top of the list. However, it needs to be on the list and addressed, according to Merial technical services veterinarian Tony Moravec. He shared remarks with producers during a Learning Lounge educational session at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show hosted Feb. 1-3 in Nashville, Tenn.

Moravec emphasized that timely deworming for parasite control among cow herds is essential, not only to the health and performance of the cow, but also to the performance of her calf, and even the performance of her next calf — thus, affecting three generations.

Timely deworming of the cow herd is essential, not only to the health and performance of the cow, but also to the performance of her calf, and even the performance of her next calf.

He explained that with the 21-day life cycle of worms, cows that do not receive parasite-control treatment can continuously be infected through the grazing season. Cows may ingest larvae on blades of grass; those larvae not only infect the animal, but are also passed through the cattle manure. Once they mature, they lay more eggs to continuously infect pastures and be ingested by grazing animals.

Once cows are infected with worms, this can ultimately hinder their immune systems and can be detrimental to body condition, as well as the cows’ ability to breed back. Plus, as the beef industry learns more about fetal programming, researchers are finding that health stresses to the pregnant cow can negatively impact the calf in utero. These negative impacts can have long-term impacts to that calf with regard to health, gain, carcass performance or reproductive efficiency.

Moravec noted that spring deworming of the cow can help protect her and reduce the cycle of worm and larvae populations on pastures, which can reduce the worms that may also be ingested by young calves at the cow’s side and impact their performance.

Merial’s Longrange® injectable dewormer provides an extended period of protection — up to 150 days — compared to other dewormers on the market, according to Moravec. He encouraged producers to work with their veterinarian to develop an effective dewormer protocol and appropriate administration timing to their herds.

Learn more about Merial’s Longrange product at http://thelongrangelook.com/


comment on this story

Editor’s Note: Kindra Gordon is a freelance writer and cattlewoman from Whitewood, S.D. This article was written as part of Angus Media’s coverage of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention.



 

 









[Click here to go to the top of the page.]