How to Formulate a Successful Fall Deworming Plan
By M. Wayne Ayers, DVM, Beef Cattle Technical Consultant, Elanco Animal Health
A fall deworming program that reduces unseen nutrient-robbing parasite load can increase cattle health and improve growth and productivity.
Parasites can have visual impact, but more often the impact is hidden in decreased performance and efficiency. A well-designed treatment program can result in the capture of many more dollars at the end of the day.
Understanding the risk
There are at least 15 internal parasites that affect cattle in the U.S., with five typically blamed for the most serious economic losses.
The parasite that causes the most economic loss, and if left unchecked can cause permanent reduction in performance, is the brown stomach worm (Ostertagia). Untreated calves that experience a heavy Ostertagia load in early life may be less efficient because of damage done to the lining of the abomasum. Reduced growth rates and increased incidences of disease, such as respiratory disease, are also potential issues.
How to time parasite management
Internal parasites behave differently depending on geographic location and environmental conditions; therefore, treatment timing can vary by location and even pasture to pasture.
Treatment timing should be dictated by the life cycle of the parasite and producers are encouraged to work with their local veterinarian to help assess the most effective time to treat parasites in their regions, which parasites are of greatest concern for their herds and which product or combination of products are recommended.
There is no one gold standard for treating parasites, therefore treatment protocols must be dictated by risk and the opportunity to handle cattle. Begin with the ideal treatment plan for your specific location and parasite risk, then adapt that ideal to the operation’s management style and restrictions.
Cattle grazing in actively growing green grass consume and ingest parasite larvae causing active infection and production losses. Spring-born calves, having picked up internal parasites throughout the summer months, will likely come into the fall with heavy loads, making pre-weaning deworming programs especially critical.
A dewormer such as Cydectin, which is highly effective against inhibited and resistant parasite populations including Ostertagia can eliminate those worms and return calves back to a state of increased growth and weight gains.
Choosing a treatment plan
Choosing a parasite control product(s) depends on local risk, handling opportunity and other pests affecting cattle. This may mean choosing between a pour-on or injectable product.
If deworming cattle in late summer or early fall when fly pressure is still heavy, a pour-on product might provide the highest return on investment. When temperatures are cold and flies are not a concern, an injectable product would have the highest return, especially when treating lice with a pour-on product.
A toolbox of options
Elanco’s extensive portfolio of insecticides and parasiticides, which can control various parasites like flies, ticks, lice, mites and internal worms, includes Cydectin.
Cydectin, a pioneer macrocyclic lactone in the milbemycin subclass is effective against both internal and external parasites, and is available in different formulations for various applications, including pour-on, injectable and oral for sheep. By reducing parasite loads, cattle are expected to have an increase appetite utilizing nutrients more efficiently with increased growth rates and reduced disease incidence.
Moxidectin, the active ingredient powering Cydectin, is the latest molecule available in the macrocyclic lactone class and in the milbemycin subclass allowing it to be more effective against and less resistant to cattle parasites than its predecessors in the avermectin class.
If one has been using any of the avermectin products repeatedly or in rotation with each other, it is possible that resistance has been building and it may be time to reach for something unique, such as Cydectin.
Visit CydectinBeef.com or talk to your veterinarian or local Elanco representative about how Cydectin can benefit your strategic fall deworming protocol.
Keep Cydectin out of reach of children.
Cydectin, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2024 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-24-1523
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