Beef Cattle Production Series – part 12 by TSCRA - The Cattleman Magazine

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 12

Unwelcome Guest, Bacteria Battle Plan, With Worms, It Pays to Have a Plan

Brought to you by

& CATTLE HEALTH Supplement to The Cattleman magazine.

“With Safe-Guard , keep ’em gaining, growing and feeling good.” ®

Steve Howard has no doubt about the efficacy and ease of use of Safe-Guard®.

“It’s pretty simple. With Safe-Guard, I know it works every time.”

As a stocker, Steve is in a high-risk business. His cattle come from all over, and many of them have no known health history. So, before he turns them out, he drenches them with Safe-Guard ® Suspension (Drench). It goes straight to the gut to kill worms and ensure his cattle get growing faster.

RESIDUE WARNING: Cattle must not be slaughtered within 8 days following last treatment. For dairy cattle, the milk discard time is zero hours. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. merck-animal-health-usa.com - 800-521-5767 ©2018 Intervet Inc., doing business as Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. US/SFG/0818/0024

Still have doubts? See the rest of the story at safeguardworks.com

CATTLE HEALTH

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12

Unwelcome Guest, Bacteria Battle Plan, With Worms, It Pays to Have a Plan Table of Contents 4 The Unwelcome Guest 6 The Bacteria Battle Plan 12 With Worms, It Pays to Have a Plan

The Cattleman, the monthly journal of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is pleased to partner with Merck Animal Health on a series of seasonal beef cattle health management manuals. Thanks to the generous support of the Merck Animal Health technical services veterinarians, we are able to provide easy-to-read articles that educate and inform ranchers about various aspects of beef cattle health management. thecattlemanmagazine.com

Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12

The Unwelcome Guest Permanent pasture parasites don’t have to kill profits. By Nicole Lane Erceg

In today’s cattle market, every dollar counts. So anything eating away a rancher’s bottom line is unwelcome and uninvited. Making their home in pastures across the U.S. is a prevalent population of parasites on a mission to cause problems. From a calf’s first bite of grass to its last, the animal will have to deal with parasites; however, ranchers don’t always have to tolerate them worming into profit margins. The No. 1 issue heavy parasite loads create is a reduction in feed intake. In a world where pounds equal profit, it’s impossible to gain when a calf doesn’t eat. When cattle can’t take in calories, there is no hope for cost-effective growth. According to Harold Newcomb, D.V.M., technical services manager for Merck Animal Health, the problems don’t stop at the feed bunk. He says parasites also impair a calf’s immune system, leaving the animal at risk to viral disease and unable to effectively launch an immune response when given a vaccine. Newcomb says that creating a successful deworming program can help ranchers see an economic benefit and a difference of a 20-pound gain in average weaning weights if done correctly. When developing an effective deworming

program, Newcomb encourages producers to look beyond the general burdens of parasites and consider the growing drugresistance of parasite treatment options, too. “Parasites have been here since the earth was cooling and they’ll figure out a way around chemical treatments,” says Newcomb. “So part of problem-solving is going to be concurrent class deworming, pasture management and it could include forage selection.” Resistance is real The parasite population is growing stronger and smarter, evolving to resist drugs that previously worked well as treatment options. “Macrocyclic lactone- or avermectin-resistance is an emerging problem in the U.S. and actually it’s pretty widespread,” says Newcomb. “Merck Animal Health maintains a database where it looks at the three major classes of dewormers. In the avermectins, which would be macrocyclic lactone, you can actually see the decline in efficacy over the years.” As parasite resistance becomes a growing problem for the

4 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12 thecattlemanmagazine.com

Performing a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is an easy way to determine if a deworming program is effective. U.S. cow herd, Newcomb says it’s important to use treatment options that don’t contribute to the problem, while at the same time effectively managing the parasite burden in the cattle. “Concurrent class use is probably the best way that we have to attack a resistance problem,” says Newcomb. “We only have three classes of dewormers in the U.S. and we need to protect all three classes, keeping each one working. Resistance is something that any class of dewormer can develop.” The three classes of dewormers available in the U.S. are macrocyclic lactones, which include all the avermectin products, ivermectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin and doramectin; benzimidazoles that include white dewormers such as fenbendazole; and imidazothiazoles such as levamisole. In all parasite populations, there is a percentage of worms that are resistant to one, two or all three of these dewormer classes. Newcomb says the key to proper treatment without contributing to the resistance problem is concurrent class deworming, a process where two or more classes of dewormer are used simultaneously. Make a plan — strategic deworming When it comes to choosing a product and process, Newcomb says it pays to have a plan. The actual problem lives on the pasture where 90 to 95 percent of parasites live. Only 5 to 10 percent of the parasite population makes their home in the cow. Newcomb recommends treating the animal when it will have the most negative impact on the lifecycle of the worm both inside the animal and on the grass. “We want to kill off the worms in the cow at a time when it will be most harmful to the parasite on the pasture as well,” says Newcomb. Through consistently keeping 4 to 6 inches of stubble in the pasture, producers can also help control parasites. Parasite larvae can only climb about 3 to 4 inches, so longer pasture grasses help avoid the spread of parasites from grass to a calf. He says the most optimal time to deworm is about 6 to 8 weeks after cattle are put out on grass in the spring. This ensures that the animal has had ample time to build up a parasite load. By treating at this time, Newcomb says a producer reduces the amount of egg shedding that occurs, stopping the parasite lifestyle. For producers in the South, he recommends deworming again 6 to 8 weeks later using a concurrent feed-through form. thecattlemanmagazine.com

When it comes to dosing, Newcomb advises dosing the animals based on their weight — not the average weight of the herd, but individual weight. “If you are dosing based on average weight you are underdosing half the animals,” says Newcomb. When making deworming program decisions, Newcomb recommends getting help from the experts. “Work with a veterinarian or a parasitologist to develop a deworming program for your operation that meets your goals because every operation is different,” he says. “A blanket onesize-fits-all deworming program may not work for everybody. Tailor a deworming program to meet your specific needs.” Is this working? No matter what dewormer or program a rancher uses, Newcomb says it’s vital to double check that it’s doing its job. Performing a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is an easy way to determine if a deworming program is effective. An FECRT is when 20 animals from the same cohort group are sampled at the time of deworming and then another 20 are sampled again 14 days later. These animals must be under 18 to 24 months of age because those cattle provide what Newcomb calls the “truest picture of parasitism” in the herd. The FECRT results will determine whether the deworming program and products used were successful. Newcomb says a 90 percent reduction in the fecal egg count is considered a successful deworming and if a producer doesn’t meet that exact number or higher, they should seriously investigate further and adjust their program to fix the issue. “This is a pass/fail kind of thing,” says Newcomb. “It’s not like horseshoes and hand grenades where close will get you by. If you are 90 percent or better, you’re okay. If you’re at 89 percent or below, it’s a fail.” He says producers who find themselves in the failing group need to consider whether the deworming and dosage was done correctly. If so, he says to work closely with a parasitologist and veterinarian to determine the problem because a producer could be dealing with drug resistance. To set up an FECRT, producers can contact a parasitologist, local veterinarian or their Merck Animal Health representative. Parasites may be an unwelcome permanent pasture resident, but with proper planning and management, their negative impacts on profits can easily be avoided. ❚ Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12

The Bacteria Battle Plan Proper antibiotic management is more than a fight against disease. Ranchers must also combat antimicrobial resistance. By Nicole Lane Erceg

Imagine a future without antibiotics. No Z-pack when a sinus infection hits, or treatment when a child gets pneumonia and small infections could turn deadly. When animals show sign of illness, there would be no simple treatment to prescribe. It is nearly impossible to picture. The toll on both human and animal life would be devastating. Guy Ellis, D.V.M., ruminant technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, says he cannot fathom the modern cattle industry without the ability to use antibiotics. When penicillin was discovered in 1928, it changed the course of human and animal medicine for good. Further development of antibiotics inspired more use, which resulted in an issue that has garnered headlines in mainstream and agricultural media — antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics are a powerful tool available to cattle ranchers. They allow bacterial infections to be easily healed, reducing instances of cattle being diseased or dying and maintaining production levels. However, to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics and the ability to use them, Ellis says that cow-calf producers have a responsibility to make sure the medications are administered properly. Though antibiotic resistance in the U.S. cattle industry is low, overzealous use of antibiotics heightens the potential to worsen the issue, threatening animal welfare and human health.

Find the source When faced with a situation where ranchers are considering treatment with antibiotics, Ellis says the first step is to discover what pathogen is causing the disease issue. “A lot of times on cow-calf operations you are dealing with parasites or viruses that antibiotics won’t touch,” says Ellis. “Determine the problem. Then you can identify which antibiotic (if an antibiotic is needed) would best fit the situation.” When disease does break out, Ellis says before reaching for a trusted antibiotic always stop first to determine the correct drug to use. While many ranchers have regular go-to medications sitting on the shelf, like penicillin or tetracycline, each antibiotic has a different mode of action. Using the wrong antibiotic to treat a disease will not heal the animal and may add to the resistance problem. “The right antibiotic to use depends on the type of bug you are dealing with,” says Ellis. “If you grab the wrong one, then all you are doing is promoting resistance and making your disease problem worse.” Using antibiotics well suited to the pathogen is one way ranchers can prevent resistance. Build good relationships When it comes to avoiding potential losses from disease, Ellis

6 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12 thecattlemanmagazine.com

We all need a little space every once in awhile, but your livestock should never be bothered by flies and other external parasites. When maintaining your livelihood, leave external parasite management to Merck Animal Health, a trusted name with a variety of solutions that fit your operation’s distinct premise, ear tag or pour-on needs.

See labels for complete instructions merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 1/18 BV-56105

says the easiest fix can be found through a trusted veterinarian. The relationship between rancher and vet is what Ellis cites as the best tool in a cattleman’s arsenal to battle bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance. “Lean on your veterinarian as to which antibiotics are best and how they should be used,” he says. “You don’t take an antibiotic as a human without the doctor first making that decision for you. You are not expected to know which one to take and the correct dosage. It should be the same with animals produced for food.” In 2017, the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) was introduced to further responsible use of antibiotics for animals used in food production. The new rule requires cattle producers to obtain a written statement issued by a licensed veterinarian to use medicated feed, including feed-through antibiotics. For ranchers to get a VFD, an official veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is required. Ellis says it’s a good reason to begin a conversation now, before treatment is imminent. Members of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) can learn more about VFDs in a series of columns archived on the TSCRA Resources page. Click on Member Login at tscra.org, and then click on Resources in the blue navigation bar to reach the TSCRA Resources page. Type Veterinary Feed Directive into the Search box, next to this symbol and find the VFD columns written in 2016 by Kristin Lewis Hawkins. Invest in good immune systems For ranchers at the cow-calf level, antibiotic resistance isn’t an everyday issue. However, all ranchers have a responsibility to protect antibiotic use by fighting resistance. As calves grow older, enduring the stress of weaning, shipping and commingling, some antibiotics are administered as a prevention protocol to avoid mass transmission of illness within new peer groups. The combination of animal stress and weak immune systems creates the ideal atmosphere for antibiotic resistance, says Ellis. Cow-calf producers can protect themselves and the industry by investing in cattle health to reduce the instances where antibiotics need to be used both on and beyond the ranch. Proper nutrition, vaccines and low-stress management practices can all help prevent bacterial infections. This mass treatment practice at the feedlot or backgrounding stage is effective at keeping disease at bay but is also the most common source of antibiotic resistance in the cattle industry. In cases of resistance, stronger types of antibiotics may be used to treat the problem. It’s a short fix, however, that adds to the growing resistance challenge. “The more antibiotics we use, the greater the chance of resistance,” says Ellis.

Don’t forget the basics Ellis directs ranchers to always read and follow antibiotic label instructions to help animals recover quickly and avoid adding to the disease problem. Each antibiotic is labeled to indicate if the medicine is to be given as an intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, based on the absorption pattern of the drug. Ellis says good, sharp, clean equipment is a must and to avoid the temptation of using a bottle that has been sitting on the shelf for an unknown amount of time. If some antibiotics sit too long, contamination can occur and cause reactions for the animal. Unless otherwise directed by a veterinarian, he says not to stray from label instructions and always be aware of withdrawal times before sending animals to harvest. “Follow the withdrawal times,” Ellis says. “Somebody is going to be eating the animals we raise, at some point. We need to make sure that if we use something like antibiotics in food-producing animals that we strictly follow the withdrawal times of those products.” See Dr. Thomas Hairgrove’s interview in “The Right Way” in the April 2017 issue of The Cattleman for an explanation of how the wrong injection method can extend the withdrawal time of the drug. A force for good Disease and infections are unavoidable, which is why antibiotics are such a vital tool for cattle ranchers. “We don’t have any new antibiotics on the horizon so we better take care of the ones we’ve got,” says Ellis. “Use them judiciously and responsibly.” Through proper use of antibiotics, ranchers can use the drug that has the best probability of curing sick animals with minimal cost to production and the least risk to human health. “Successful antibiotic use goes back to knowing what disease you are dealing with and using the correct antibiotics based on what the diagnostics show,” says Ellis. By teaming up with a veterinarian to determine disease source, prescribing the best possible antibiotics and following the basics for administration, ranchers can build healthy cattle populations and produce safe beef, without sacrificing animal or human health. These simple protocols make the fight against bacterial infection and a future with antibiotics seem like a battle easily won. “Antibiotics have their place and when used responsibly they work beautifully,” says Ellis. “They prevent diseases, they treat diseases and they prevent animal welfare concerns. When used responsibly, antibiotics are a great thing.” ❚

8 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12 thecattlemanmagazine.com

SHE CAN DO IT.

OR YOU CAN TRY.

SCOURS VACCINATION CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD DAY OF WORK – AND A COLD, HARD ONE. That’s why more producers are choosing to protect their calves from scours by vaccinating the pregnant cow or heifer with Guardian®. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, scours has been attributed to 17.2 percent of annual nonpredatory calf loss in U.S. cattle operations annually.1 If scours has affected your calves in the past, you know the real price of getting them back on their feet – time, treatment cost and heartache. USDA. 2011. Cattle and Calves Nonpredator Death Loss in the United States, 2010. USDA–APHIS–VS.

Guardian provides broad-spectrum viral and clostridial protection against the leading contributors to scours.

FOR YOUR HERD — FOR THE FUTURE — CHOOSE GUARDIAN. For more information talk to your veterinarian or Merck Animal Health representative. Or, to learn more go to The-Best-Defense.com/Guardian.

Knock out BRD and take down the fever that usually comes with it when you use Resflor Gold® (florfenicol and flunixin meglumine). The only major antibiotic to combine the BRD-treating action of florfenicol with the symptom-fighting action of flunixin. With one shot, Resflor Gold makes your animals feel better within six hours.1,2 So they aren’t just back on their feet eating and drinking, they’re back on the gaining track. Talk to your Merck Animal Health rep or visit resflorgold.com to learn more.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. This product contains material that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. This product is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. A withdrawal period has not been established in preruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. Do not use in animals that have shown hypersensitivity to florfenicol or flunixin. Not for use in animals intended for breeding purposes. The effects of florfenicol and flunixin on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy, and lactation have not been determined. When administered according to the label directions, RESFLOR GOLD may induce a transient local reaction in the subcutaneous and underlying muscle tissue. Brief summary available on adjacent page. 1 2

Exhibits bactericidal activity against some strains of Mannheimia haemolytica and Histophilus somni. The correlation between in vitro susceptibility data and clinical effectiveness is unknown.

PRODUCT INFORMATION NADA 141-299, Approved by FDA.

(Florfenicol and Flunixin Meglumine) Antimicrobial/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug For subcutaneous use in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle only. Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older or in calves to be processed for veal. (Florfenicol and Flunixin Meglumine) BRIEF SUMMARY: For full prescribing information, see Antimicrobial/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug package insert. ® For subcutaneous use in GOLD beef and INDICATION: RESFLOR isnon-lactating indicated for dairy cattle only. respiratory Not for usedisease in female dairy treatment of bovine (BRD) associated cattle 20 months of age or older or in calves to with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, be processed for veal. Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis, and control of BRIEF SUMMARY: For full prescribing information, see BRD-associated pyrexia in beef and non-lactating dairy package insert. cattle.

INDICATION: RESFLOR Do GOLD is indicated CONTRAINDICATIONS: not use in animalsforthat treatment bovine respiratory to disease (BRD) associated have shownof hypersensitivity florfenicol or flunixin. ®

with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida,

Histophilus somni, andFOR Mycoplasma bovis, andKEEP control OUT of WARNINGS: NOT HUMAN USE. in beef and dairy OFBRD-associated REACH OFpyrexia CHILDREN. Thisnon-lactating product contains cattle. that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Avoid material direct contact with skin, Do eyes, case CONTRAINDICATIONS: notand use clothing. in animalsInthat ofhave accidental eye exposure,toflush with or water for 15 shown hypersensitivity florfenicol flunixin. minutes. In case of accidental skin exposure, wash WARNINGS: NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT with soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing. OF REACH OF CHILDREN. This product contains Consult a physician if irritation persists. Accidental material that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Avoid injection of thiswith product may and cause local Inirritation. direct contact skin, eyes, clothing. case Consult a physician immediately. The Material of accidental eye exposure, flush with water for 15 Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed minutes. In case of accidental skin exposure, wash occupational safety with soap and water.information. Remove contaminated clothing. Consult a physician if irritation persists. Accidental

For customer or to may obtain a copy the MSDS, injection of service this product cause localof irritation. call 1-800-211-3573. For technical assistance or to report Consult a physician immediately. The Material suspected adverse reactions, call 1-800-219-9286. Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed occupational safety information.

Not for use in animals intended for breeding purposes. For customer or to obtain copy of the MSDS, The effects service of florfenicol on a bovine reproductive call 1-800-211-3573. For technical assistance or tonot report performance, pregnancy, and lactation have been suspected adverse reactions, call 1-800-219-9286. determined. Toxicity studies in dogs, rats, and mice have associated the use of florfenicol withpurposes. testicular Not for use in animals intended for breeding degeneration atrophy. NSAIDs are known to have The effects and of florfenicol on bovine reproductive potential effects on bothand parturition performance, pregnancy, lactation and have the not estrous been cycle. There may be studies a delayinindogs, the onset of estrus determined. Toxicity rats, and mice if have associated the use of florfenicol with testicular flunixin is administered during the prostaglandin phase degeneration and atrophy. NSAIDs are known to have of the estrous cycle. The effects of flunixin on imminent potential effects on both estrous parturition have not beenparturition evaluatedandin the a controlled cycle.NSAIDs There may a delay in thethe onset of estrus if study. are be known to have potential to delay flunixin is administered during the prostaglandin phase parturition through a tocolytic effect. of the estrous cycle. The effects of flunixin on imminent

parturitionGOLD have®not been administered evaluated in a as controlled RESFLOR , when directed, study. NSAIDs are knownreaction to have at thethe potential delay may induce a transient site oftoinjection parturition through a tocolytic effect. and underlying tissues that may result in trim loss of ® edible tissue at slaughter. RESFLOR GOLD , when administered as directed, may induce a transient reaction at the site of injection and underlying tissues that may result in trim loss of RESIDUE WARNINGS: Animals intended edible tissue at slaughter.

for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. RESIDUE Animals Do not use WARNINGS: in female dairy cattle intended 20 months consumption must notin be offoragehuman or older. Use of florfenicol this slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. class of cattle may cause milk residues. A Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months withdrawal period has not been established of age or older. Use of florfenicol in this inclass pre-ruminating Doresidues. not useA in of cattle may calves. cause milk calves to beperiod processed forbeen veal.established withdrawal has not in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Transient inappetence, diarrhea, decreased water consumption, and injection ADVERSE Transient with inappetence, site swelling REACTIONS: have been associated the use of diarrhea, decreased and injectionand florfenicol in cattle.water In consumption, addition, anaphylaxis site swelling have been associated with the collapse have been reported post-approval use withofthe florfenicol in formulation cattle. In addition, anaphylaxis and use of another of florfenicol in cattle. collapse have been reported post-approval with the

of another formulation of florfenicol in cattle. reactions, Inuse cattle, rare instances of anaphylactic-like some of which have been fatal, have been reported, reactions, In cattle, rare instances of anaphylactic-like primarily following intravenous flunixin some of which have been fatal, haveuse been of reported, meglumine. primarily following intravenous use of flunixin meglumine.

Made in Germany Made inInc. Germany Intervet Roseland, NJ 07068 IntervetIntervet Inc. Roseland, 07068Reserved. ©2009, Inc. AllNJRights ©2009, Intervet Inc. All Rights Reserved. US 3448_IV May 2009 May 2009

US 3448_IV

With Worms, It Pays to Have a Plan Effective deworming takes more than a dose of pharmaceuticals, but simple strategic steps can make the process an easy chore. By Nicole Lane Erceg

Odds are, there’s a profit-stealing bandit that has made a home in the front pasture. It’s in the back pasture and probably in your neighbors’ pastures, too. Nestled in the grass the cattle graze daily, this unwelcome guest is poised to eat away at the cow herd that also calls this rangeland home. What is this pesky pest? Parasites. Laird Laurence, Merck Animal Health veterinarian, says cattlemen often think about the worms that live inside the herd, wreaking havoc on the cow’s health. However, only 5 percent of a ranch’s worm population actually lives in the cow — the other 95 percent is settled in the pasture. This perfect placement on the grass allows the lucky worms to easily catch a ride from grass stem to cattle stomach without much work. It’s also what leaves them vulnerable to the elements. Laurence says this simple piece of knowledge, knowing where the worms live, can help ranchers strategically

rid themselves of parasite problems by planning when and how to deworm based on the weather. “I always tell people, if it’s cold enough to kill your tomato plants, it’s cold enough to kill 100 percent of the larvae in the pasture,” says Laurence. After the first hard freeze in the fall, the larvae preying on cattle in the grass are gone. With 95 percent of the worm population dead or dormant for the winter, Laurence says it’s the perfect time to attack the leftover worms still living in the cattle. Deworming after the weather turns cold isn’t a permanent solution, as the eggs will survive the winter, but it keeps the cow herd healthy until spring. Test for worms Before applying a product, he advises ranchers to always run fecal samples. ➤

12 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12 thecattlemanmagazine.com

ONE DOSE. TWICE THE SECURITY. merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., doing business as Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 1/18 BV-Once-56398-B

Once PHM® IN protects your calves from Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida – two of the leading forms of bacteria that cause early-onset BRD – so you’re double covered. One intranasal dose, no needle, given as young as 1 week of age, is all it takes. Easy for you, easy on them. For more information, talk to your Merck Animal Health representative or visit The-Best-Defense.com/Once_PMH.

Deworming after the weather turns cold isn’t a permanent solution, as the eggs will survive the winter, but it keeps the cow herd healthy until spring. “Why deworm if you don’t have to?” he says. Gathering fecal samples and submitting them for testing (a service that Merck offers free of charge, Laurence adds) will help determine if a dewormer is needed and if so, what type will best eradicate the specific parasite problem on the ranch. Collecting samples for testing pays off twofold; if no dewormer is necessary, it saves time and money and if it is needed, it provides a comparison to make sure the selected product works properly. “Don’t assume you’re done if you collected samples before deworming,” says Laurence. “Collect and submit them two weeks after a product has been administered, too. If there is not a 90 percent reduction in fecal egg count, then the product you used did not work and you won’t see the benefits of it.” The process of collecting fecal samples doesn’t mean a sample from every animal in the herd. Laurence says it only takes 20 samples to make the test statistically significant. This same sample size holds true whether there are 100 or 3,000 cows in the herd. Product choice When selecting a product, Laurence says ranchers should select two; an avermectin and a fenbendazole. Using multiple products with both active ingredients ensures that all worms are killed. For ranchers looking for a low-impact option, Laurence recommends using a feedthrough product like the Safe-Guard® medicated dewormer mineral block. “What I like about it is that you put it out and you’re done,” says Laurence. He instructs ranchers using this option to pick up every other mineral supplement and salt block and leave the Safe-Guard® blocks out until they are gone. He says if the blocks are gone within 12 days, then all the cattle have been dewormed. One mineral block will effectively deworm 8,000 lbs. of cattle. The active ingredient fenbendazole is ingested over several days, making sure that all the worms in the intestinal tract absorb enough of the ingredient to be completely terminated. The salt content of the block keeps cattle from over-eating their

share and leaving enough for the rest of the herd to receive the medication. “We did 800 calves recently and it was amazing to me because every calf got its dose,” says Laurence. “We took fecals [fecal samples] every 30 days for six months and the results were amazing.” Don’t let worms eat the profit When the weather warms up in the spring, Laurence says it’s time to begin thinking about worms again. The eggs that survived the winter in the pasture will hatch and larvae are ready to begin their new attack on the cow herd. Laurence cautions ranchers not to deworm at the first signs of spring. He says the optimal time to begin the process is about six weeks after the first signs of warm days and lush green grass. This gives worms time to mature and the cattle time to pick up the parasites in the pasture. “This is where the strategic part comes in,” says Laurence. “If you worm them the day the grass is greened up, then it’s no good because you already dewormed them in the fall. With only two days on the coastal grass, they haven’t picked up any parasites yet.” Watching the weather, taking fecal samples and making good product choices pays off. For ranchers who deploy strategic deworming plans, Laurence says they see an additional 30-40 pounds in gain per calf. Without worms attacking their appetite, immune system and nutrient digestibility, cows are better milk producers, passing on their benefits to the calf. The added pounds, flesh and health from effective deworming leads to increased profits when selling the calves. Laurence says it’s a low-cost investment with a high rate of return. “The most common mistake I see cattlemen make is not deworming at all,” says Laurence. “They don’t think they have parasites.” For ranchers who think that it’s too dry in their area of the state to have worms, Laurence says to think again. There is a high chance that parasites have moved into most Texas pastures. However, with a little planning, worms will no longer be a problem in the cow herd, and ranchers are left with pounds and profit. ❚

14 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 12 thecattlemanmagazine.com

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 12

Unwelcome Guest, Bacteria Battle Plan, With Worms, It Pays to Have a Plan

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