For decades, helminths of cattle have had a tough time, crushed by the weight of prophylactic anthelmintic treatments and occasionally rearing their heads to cause production loss. Currently, however, they are looking forward to a new golden age. Anthelmintic resistance and concerns over the environmental impacts of parasiticides are driving routine repeated whole-group treatments into the past, while farm management for environmental sustainability also offers plenty of up-side to worms. Producers are faced with more complex choices, with serious implications for profitability, and so veterinary practitioners now find parasites back on their radar.
This one-day course will first recap fundamental knowledge of the drivers of helminth epidemiology in cattle (dairy and beef), and what has changed in the evidence base and the situation. Then, apply this understanding to the current challenges posed by drug resistance and environmental change. The objective is to provide the foundation needed to guide management for increased sustainability while avoiding negative health and production impacts; as well as to problem-solve deteriorating outcomes of current control strategies.
Key topics:
- Impacts of gut-worms, lungworm and fluke on cattle health and production
- Effects of climate and weather on helminth epidemiology
- Anthelmintic resistance, how to measure it, and what to do when it is found
- Managing worms using grazing management and planned immunity
- Targeted treatment using diagnostic indicators and its limitations
- Environmental considerations in worm control
- Novel control methods, e.g. bioactive plants, biological control and vaccines
- Devising accessible, farm-specific tools for change
