Beef producers and feeders can improve their parasite control
program by making sure they select a dewormer that will control
the right parasites at the right time – and which leads to the
most productive gains when cattle are marketed. That’s the
recommendation of Dr. Jerry Woodruff, senior veterinarian for
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. His message comes at a
critical time in beef production, in which management of animal
health and other production costs are crucial to the fate of
profit potential. “Internal parasite effects in cattle can be
difficult for producers and feeders to grasp,” Woodruff says.
“But even minimal levels of parasites can have a negative impact
on the immune system. It’s important to identify the parasites
that impact your herd and make sure you have excellent control
of the ones that impact animal performance.” Know parasite
“colors” Even though parasites are minute critters, vets
sometimes distinguish them by their colors. For example, the
“brown stomach worm” (Ostertagia oste