Thinking of worming dairy cattle - Ask your bank manager as well as your vet
Research by students at Harper Adams into internal parasite control in dairy cattle suggests that this topic should be treated as a business opportunity, rather than an animal health issue.
As expected, although the research indicated that 70% of respondents treat heifers and cows for external parasites, few farmers think seriously about internal parasites in their herd. Not surprisingly, one of the main reasons given for this lack of intervention was the illusion that with mature dairy cows, once they have developed immunity to gut worms, that's the end of the story. Perhaps one of the most telling aspects of the research is that of those who have dosed their cows and heifers for worms in the last 12 months, well over 80% intend to continue the treatment.
Although the 107 respondents were generally satisfied with the condition and milk yield from their herd, the research indicated that further improvements in these two factors would encourage non-users to start to use a wormer on heifers and adult dairy cows. However, the research also highlighted that the principal influence on the decision to worm or not was the farm's vet, who may be more clinically than production focused. For example, a recent Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research study has shown that a group of adult cows treated with EPRINEX averaged an increase of 1.7 litres per day throughout the lactation.
The group of 12 students, working on an applied marketing project as part of their course for rural consultancy.com (part of Harper Adams University College), studied approximately 100 dairy farms across the Midlands and South West. As an indication of the quality of work emanating from Harper Adams, Merial's Chris Hale stated "The standard of the research produced by the students was excellent.
The most noteworthy aspect of the project was the high levels of commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by the individuals, which bodes well for the future of our industry".
