This year's severely delayed start to grass growth makes it all the more important to maximise conversion of grass to live-weight in growing cattle, advises Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) vet Andrew Montgomery. In particular, he suggests that farmers who employ preventive worm control measures stand to gain significantly compared with waiting for visible signs before treatment.
According to SAC beef adviser Dr Basil Lowman, gastrointestinal worms can reduce summer growth rates long before signs start to show as loose faeces and dirty rumps: “Over a 200-day grazing season, unseen worm infections could easily reduce growth by 0.1 kg a day,” he says.1
To avoid leaving cattle vulnerable to worms and the consequent risk of reduced growth rates, several options are available, explains Andrew Montgomery. “Cattle that have not been treated already with either a pulse-release bolus or long acting wormer can still be protected throughout the grazing season with a strategic 0.5% moxidectin pour-on regime.
“This treatment offers protection against gastrointestinal worms and lungworm with an eight to 10 week dosing interval. So one treatment now, another in about two months time, then one up to five weeks pre-housing can provide a worm control protocol for the entire grazing season.” (see graphic).
The intervals between treatments allow some exposure to worm larvae for stimulation of natural immunity, then the next treatment kills them before they can have a detrimental impact on the animal.
Two other key attributes of moxidectin pour-on are its rainfastness and low impact on dung-dwelling insects. Moxidectin pour-on is available as CYDECTIN® 0.5% Pour-On for Cattle. For advice about worming choices this summer and responsible wormer use in general, farmers should seek advice from their VPS medicines supplier or veterinary surgeon.
All CYDECTIN brands contain moxidectin, POM-VPS. For further infomation, please contact Zoetis, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS. Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible). AH339/13.
Reference: 1 Dr Basil Lowman, 5 February 2007. Personal communication. SAC beef specialist. Comments re-validated by Dr Lowman April 2013.
