The new government may change the regulatory landscape but one ship that has already sailed is the one driven by our customers, which is focused on emissions reduction.
So how does animal health fit into emissions reduction? Of two equal cows, a healthy cow is more efficient. All feed, protein and energy is utilised for the productive traits the cow is bred for, rather than being diverted to help fight disease. There are some common animal health challenges like lameness, mastitis, and reproductive waste, but lurking in the intestines are internal parasites. While adults are immune and are better able to combat larvae that are ingested daily, this still comes at a cost. Internal parasites interfere with feeding and the absorption of nutrients. A parasitised cow may eat the same as a healthy, non-parasitised cow, but produce less and therefore be less efficient. We know that parasites reduce milk production as proven in many New Zealand and overseas trials [1,2,3]. Studies have also shown that parasites can reduce appetite [4].
The cost of parasites on emissions hasn’t been studied in cattle yet, however, aiming to find incremental emissions savings by blanket treating cows is not likely to be a very sustainable path. Blanket treatment of all adults is no longer best practice [5], as the risk of drench resistance development is higher. Cows with compromised immune systems are more likely to be affected by parasites than healthy cows. These are cows that are stressed (such as young cows in the herd), ones that are lame, had recent illness, mastitis, or metritis, or who are in poor condition with less reserves to call on. These are the cows who should be targeted for a worm treatment.
The highest risk time for worms on farm is often late autumn, as climatic conditions enable survival and development of larvae. For best effect, cows should be treated when they need it, so a nil withholding product may be important. Cydectin® Pour-On is the market-leading anthelmintic with zero milk, meat and bobby calf withholding times. It also has persistent activity enabling it to continue killing incoming larvae before they can do damage to the animal. Cydectin can kill Ostertagia ostertagi for 5 weeks, which is the most important production limiting parasite in cattle, and it effectively kills biting and sucking lice. When larval challenge is high or cows need better worm protection, this may be a smart choice to use.
There are actions within your control that can influence your emissions. Maintaining healthy cows is a key area, and parasite control is a part of this.
Talk to your local Farm Source Technical Sales Rep for more information on parasite management or visit Wormwise.co.nz for more resources.
Article supplied by Zoetis. Zoetis New Zealand Limited. Tel: 0800 963847; www.zoetis.co.nz.
Cydectin is a registeredtrademark of Zoetis. ACVM No. A6203.
1 Murphy, A. The effect of treatment with moxidectin, a long acting endectocide, on milk production in lactating dairy cows Buiatrics WorldCongress, 1998.
2 McPherson WB, The impact of eprinomectin treatment on dairy cattle reproductive performance Proc. DCV. NZVA, 2000.
3 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.
4 Forbes A. Grazing Behaviour, Inappetence and Production Losses in Cattle with Sub-clinical Parasitic Gastroenteritis, PhD, Gent 2008.