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As temperatures get colder and the days shorter, winter's impending arrival is obvious. Winter preparations for most cattlemen are well under way, but do they include parasite control? With cooler temperatures, different parasites become problematic, including lice and grubs. "Lice and grub populations begin rising rapidly in October and don't decrease until April," says David Juda, product manager for Cydectin. "It's important to use a product that will be effective on the entire herd in order for them to stay clean all winter." In addition to external parasites, Juda says not to forget about internal parasites. "The brown stomach worm is the most economically significant internal parasite," says Juda. In order to get maximum control, it is important to kill both the mature and immature worms. "The inhibited stage has the ability to hibernate over the winter, so control in this stage is very important for fall and winter control." Research concludes that animals that are parasite-free have better feed efficiency and daily gain. In a large stocker trial conducted at Louisiana State University, researchers studied results of cattle treated with Cydectin Pour On against a control group with no parasite control. The cattle were grazed on grass for 112 days. Those treated for parasite control gained 338 pounds, while the untreated cattle gained 281 pounds, a difference of 57 pounds. "With cattle prices like they are, gaining an extra 57 pounds is pretty important," says Juda. There are several methods of parasite control to consider. Some products, like Cydectin, protect against both internal and external parasites. If external winter parasites, such as lice and grubs are your main concern, there are a variety of products that protect against only external parasites. Brute Pour-On, manufactured by Y-Tex is a very concentrated oil-based permethrine that protects against biting and sucking lice, grubs, ticks, horn flies and other pests. Due to its high concentration, 10 percent permethrine, one pint treats 64 head weighing 500 pounds, or 32 head weighing 1,000 pounds or more. "You only need a very small volume to treat a large number of animals A little dab will do you, and you don't have several containers to dispose of," says Denny Baustert, Director of Sales and Marketing for Y-Tex. "And it is rain repellent as well as photo-stable, meaning the product won't break down in the sunlight." In addition to pour-ons, other treatment options include dusts, insecticide tags and sprays. "Y-Tex's Python and Warrior ear tags protect against lice for four to five months when using two tags per head," says Baustert. That accounts for the majority of the lice season, he says. For cattlemen interested in treating for internal parasites without handling their cattle, there are mineral and cake products available with a dewormer "built in." Cattle are treated as they consume the cake or mineral. Regardless what type of product is used, Beef Quality Assurance guidelines state it is important to check withdrawl times before marketing the cattle. © |
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