Agricultural
22 June, 2022
Darling Downs Vets warn of cattle worms
Internal parasites, also known as worms, are on the rise in cattle according to local vets.
We are currently seeing a lot of cattle that are suffering from internal parasites.
Parasitic diseases of cattle can impair their overall health, reproduction, growth, and productivity.
In severe cases, parasitic diseases may even cause death.
Unfortunately, many of the cases that we are seeing at the moment have resulted in loss of stock.
Cattle that are typically most susceptible to internal parasites includes young stock (up to 18 months), cattle under nutritional stress or metabolic stress due to pregnancy or lactation, and bull.
High stocking rates, especially in wet and cool conditions that favour larval survival, will also subject cattle to higher worm levels.
General Symptoms of internal parasites in cattle can include:
- Lethargy
- Pale Gums
- Rough Coat
- Diarrhoea
- Emaciation
- Weight Loss
- Blood Loss
Best practice for managing parasites in cattle is to perform regular faecal egg testing to monitor for worm burdens and the exact type of worms within the herd.
Prevention/manage-ment includes treating cattle at the beginning of a roundworm/fly or lice infection period with a long acting product to eliminate existing roundworm or arthropod parasites and prevent re-infection, if the animals are in an environment where there is infection challenge.
- Darling Downs Vets
