Why parasite control matters

Effective parasite management is a key part of maintaining cattle health and farm performance. While good nutrition is essential, parasites can severely impact growth, feed efficiency, and productivity. In more severe cases, a high parasite burden can lead to serious health problems or even death.

A strong parasite control plan helps reduce these risks and supports better cattle performance throughout the year.

Five key parasites to monitor in cattle

Different parasites affect cattle in different ways, so it is important to understand the risks and use the right treatment at the right time.

1. Lungworms

Lungworms can infect the airways of cattle and cause parasitic bronchitis. Young cattle often lack the immunity needed to combat these parasites effectively, making regular monitoring especially important.

Prompt treatment can help prevent severe lung infections. It is important to know which stage of worm you are targeting before administering an oral drench.

2. Stomach worms

Stomach worms are a type of roundworm that live in the cow’s fourth stomach, or abomasum. Young cattle have little resistance to stomach worms and should be treated as a priority where parasite burden is present.

Although adult cattle over two years of age may build up a level of natural immunity, high stomach worm burdens in older cattle are still not uncommon and can result in weight loss, reduced appetite, and poor thrive.

3. Liver fluke

Liver fluke can cause significant liver damage and affect the overall health and productivity of the herd. Infection risk can remain high where grazing conditions favour fluke, and it is important to know which stage of fluke you are treating.

Timing treatment correctly is important if you want to target early immature, immature, and adult flukes effectively.

4. Biting and sucking lice

Lice infestations can cause discomfort and stress in cattle, leading to reduced feed efficiency and poorer growth rates. Scratching and hair loss are often early signs.

Treating with a suitable pour-on product is often effective for both biting and sucking lice. Clipping backs and tails can also help reduce cover for parasites, minimise sweating, and keep animals cleaner.

5. Mites

Mites can cause skin irritation and other health problems in cattle. Identifying and treating mite infestations quickly is important for maintaining overall herd health.

Pour-on products are commonly used, and it is important to treat all animals in the herd. After treatment, animals should ideally be moved to clean housing that has not been used by cattle for at least three weeks.

Building an effective parasite control plan

Having a robust parasite control plan in place is vital to ensuring cattle perform at their best. This should include regular health checks, strategic deworming, and treatments tailored to your herd’s specific needs.

• Monitor animals regularly for signs of parasite burden
• Choose treatments based on the parasite and life stage being targeted
• Use housing and hygiene practices to help reduce reinfection risk
• Keep treatment records accurate and up to date

How Herdwatch can help

Good parasite control also depends on strong record keeping. Herdwatch makes it easier to record medicine purchases and treatments as they happen, helping you stay organised and inspection-ready.

Record treatments on the go

With the Herdwatch app, you can record any medicine purchase or treatment using your mobile phone, wherever you are on the farm.

How to record a treatment on Herdwatch

• Click the Orange Plus Button
• Select Cattle Treatment
• Select either Treatment only or From remedy cabinet
• Choose your treatment and select Next
• Choose the date and click OK
• Fill out the required information and click Next
• Select tag numbers and Save

Stay on top of inspections and compliance

Keeping records up to date helps you stay prepared for inspections and gives you a clearer picture of treatments across the herd.

Smarter parasite control starts with better records

Parasites can have a major impact on cattle health and performance, but a proactive approach can make a big difference. By combining effective treatment planning with accurate farm records, you can support better outcomes across the herd.