Where There Are Cattle, There Are Parasites: Nine Tips For Managing Parasites In Your Herd

Are your cattle itchy and scratchy? Have you noticed reduced feed intake or altered grazing behaviour? These may be signs of a parasite problem in your herd.  Effective parasite management is a balancing act. On one hand, controlling parasites is essential for maintaining cattle health, welfare and productivity. While on the other hand, over-use of some treatment methods can lead to parasite resistance, which negatively impacts the long-term health of the herd and can also affect the environment.  The type of parasites present and the magnitude of the problem will vary based on different factors such as animal health, geography, season and management scenarios. Therefore, it is important to take a multifaceted approach when combating parasites.?  Here are nine tips to help manage parasites on your farm:?  Tip #1: Meet animal nutritional requirements and maintain cattle in good body condition. Healthy cattle are less susceptible to the impacts of both internal and external parasite