Now it has been proven (in sheep) that controlling parasites can lead to a significant reduction in GHG emissions, and therefore help reduce the carbon footprint of livestock farming1, 2.
With 90% of Fonterra's emissions coming from cows, whether we like it or not, reducing cow emissions needs to be on everyone's radar. This isn't just coming from government, but driven by customers also.
So what can you do? Ensuring cows are healthy is a good start. Internal parasites interfere with feeding and the absorption of nutrients, which means a parasitised cow may eat the same (or less) as a healthy, non-parasitised cow, but she will produce less and therefore be less efficient. We know that parasites reduce milk production as this has been demonstrated in many New Zealand and overseas studies3, 4, 5. Studies have also shown how they reduce appetite6.
Parasitised young stock won't eat as much so will be less likely to hit target mating and calving weights, potentially leading to culling. This also becomes a waste of emissions. A Scottish study in sheep showed parasitised lambs contributed 33% more emissions than their worm-free flock mates1.
Most cows will have some worms and that's ok. But cows that have compromised immunity, that are young, in poor condition or stressed have less ability to offset the damage that parasites do, especially if faced with a heavy challenge. This will then have a flow-on effect to reducing their productivity (milking ability, reproductive rate and increasing emissions).
Removing parasites at key times of the year when cows are facing a high challenge of worm larvae can be beneficial. Worm larvae are generally at their peak on pasture in late autumn, early winter, then taper off over winter, although this is temperature dependent.
A mild winter allows for greater survival. Even after a cold bitter winter there will still be larvae present (they don't all die!) and this also coincides with a stressful time for the cows, with calving and peak milk.
Targeting selected cows with a worm treatment at this time can make a difference to their health and contribution to the farm. But not all drenches are the same. In the studies that showed productivity improvements, these results were mostly achieved when cows were treated with longer acting products such as Cydectin® Pour-On5.
Cydectin Pour-On has persistent activity against a wide spectrum of parasites enabling it to continue killing incoming larvae before they are able to do damage to the animal. Cydectin can kill Ostertagia ostertagi for five weeks - this is the most important production-limiting parasite in cattle. When larval challenge is high and/or cows need better worm protection, this is a great option.
Not only is it long lasting but it contains a very safe active ingredient, moxidectin, enabling it to have zero milk, meat and bobby calf withholdings. This makes it a very flexible option to treat cows when they need it. It has been extensively trialled with studies demonstrating not only a lift in milk production at calving, but also at dry off and late lactation3. Studies also showed it is rainfast, though it is not best practice to apply the product when it is raining. It is safe on dung beetles and has been part of the Agrecovery recycling program since its inception.
Healthy happy cows are our ticket to keeping our world leading position in dairy. Minimising cow exposure to parasites can play its part.
Talk to your local Farm Source Technical Sales Rep for more information on parasite management or visit wormwise.co.nz for more resources.
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Zoetis New Zealand Limited. Tel: 0800 963 847; www.zoetis.co.nz. Cydectin is a registered trademark of Zoetis. ACVM No. A6203.
1 Fox N. Ubiquitous parasites drive a 33% increase in methane yield from livestock Intl. J. Parasitol., 2018.
2 Houdijk J Animal health and greenhouse gas intensity: the paradox of periparturient parasitism. Intl. J. Parasitol. 2017.
3 Murphy, A. The effect of treatment with moxidectin, a long acting endectocide, on milk production in lactating dairy cows Buiatrics World Congress, 1998.
4 McPherson WB, The impact of eprinomectin treatment on dairy cattle reproductive performance Proc. DCV. NZVA, 2000.
5 Sanchez J, et al. A meta-analysis of the milk-production response after anthelmintic treatment in naturally infected adult dairy cows Prev. Vet. Med., 2004.
6 Forbes A. Grazing Behaviour, Inappetence and Production Losses in Cattle with Sub-clinical Parasitic Gastroenteritis, PhD, Gent 2008.
Article supplied by Zoetis.