Animal Health Products & Practices
Parasite Control
Both internal and external parasites can have a major impact on cattle performance and quality. Parasites can impact condemnation of livers, hide quality and muscle damage through parasite migration.
Internal parasites, such as stomach worms, can cause extensive damage to the digestive tract of cattle. The damage can result in impaired digestive function and suppressed absorption of nutrients, leading to deficiencies in energy and protein. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to suppression of the immune system, resulting in poor animal performance and health.
- Liver flukes are a common internal parasite in some parts of the United States. Infection is generally limited to cattle produced in areas that commonly have standing water, such as river bottom pastures and alkaline soils.
- Horn fly irritation reduces gains in calves and yearlings and body condition in cows. Horn flies are biting insects that not only affect performance, but can also reduce hide quality due to scar tissue on the surface of the skin.
- Heel flies commonly lay their eggs on the lower legs of cattle, then migrate under the skin surface. Larvae then migrate through the body and ultimately become encapsulated just beneath the hide, along the back. Heel flies are more prevalent during the spring season.
Product Use
- A record of pesticide/insecticide use must be kept and must include product ID, serial/lot number, date used, amount used, person who administered the product, the animal or animals exposed to the pesticide and withdrawal time.
- Pesticides have proven to be effective when utilized at label dosages and approved routes of administration. Improper dosage levels or routes of administration excessively stress cattle and affect withdrawal periods.
- Only use products approved for control of internal and external parasites of cattle. Caution should be exercised when using petrochemicals, such as motor oil or diesel, in backrubbers or other self–treatment devices for control of external parasites. These compounds are routinely screened at harvest and overexposure can result in violative residues.
- Apply topical, oral and/or injectable livestock pesticides at label dose rate. Overdosing constitutes extra–label usage with unknown withdrawal times. Individual animal weights can help determine appropriate calculation of doses.
- Document usage and observe all appropriate withdrawal times before marketing cattle. Remember that residue problems occur more frequently with cull cows/bulls and realizer (cattle which fail to respond to treatment) cattle than for healthy calves or yearlings.
- When applying insecticide ear tags wear disposable latex gloves.
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Montana Beef Quality Assurance,
2116 Broadwater Ave., Suite 307/11
Billings, MT 59102,
406-896-9068,
cpeck@montana.edu
Montana Beef Network,
119 Linfield Hall
Bozeman, MT 59718,
406-994-4323,
mharbac@montana.edu