To deworm or not to deworm

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: June 27, 2002

It’s a common practice at Alberta ranches in the fall to treat cattle

brought in off pasture for parasite control.

But as cattle prices slide, producers might want to ask whether it is

necessary to deworm their herds every year. It’s a question posed by

Alberta’s chief provincial veterinarian.

“I’m not telling people not to do it,” said Gerald Ollis, “but I’m

questioning it myself.”

Parasites of concern are roundworms that can live in the gut and

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intestines and lungworms, which can infest the lungs. Both can hinder

the weight gains and feed conversion of calves on pasture.

In Alberta, where pasture conditions generally are drier than in a

province like Manitoba, it can be harder for parasites to flourish.

They thrive better in moist conditions, where they can comfortably

multiply before being eaten by grazing livestock.

Mark MacNaughton, an Alberta forage and beef specialist, agrees with

Ollis that deworming may not be needed every year in every area of

Alberta.

“It’s expensive,” he said. “It’s not like throwing a dollar ear tag in

the cattle.”

However, like Ollis, MacNaughton is not suggesting that producers

abandon deworming as part of their herd health regimen.

For producers with closed herds and pasture conditions less inviting to

parasites, there might be an opportunity to skip the odd year of

treatment, he said, especially those that have had a sound program for

controlling parasites in place for several years.

He also suggested that producers would want to make sure any new

additions are treated to limit the risk of them spreading internal

parasites to other cattle, “because you really don’t know the history

of those animals.”

As well, there might be times when it is worth it to deworm a herd more

than once a year.

Lyall Petrie, a professor of large animal medicine at the Western

College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, said in many areas of

Alberta and Saskatchewan where the weather generally has been dry, one

treatment a year should suffice.

However, where conditions are typically moist, such as Alberta’s Peace

region, it might be worthwhile deworming in late July as an added

precaution, he said.

About the author

Ian Bell

Brandon bureau

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