How to identify and limit the risk of parasitism in cattle

Cow in pastures

Parasitism, which occur naturally in all cattle, is detrimental to productivity and animal welfare. Since it is impossible to eliminate parasites completely, it is essential to understand their development cycle in order to reduce their impact on the herd.

But first, what is a parasite? A parasite is an organism living inside a host. It takes advantage of the host, using it for food, shelter or reproduction. And all to the prejudice of the host in question.

There are many types of parasite. Some are external (ectoparasites), such as lice, ticks, mosquitoes or even flies. Those that live and settle on the animal. The others are obviously internal (endoparasites). These include coccidia, strongyles and lungworms.

Digestive strongyles are parasites : the gastrointestinal worms of cattle

In cattle, it is important to monitor strongyles infestations throughout the animal’s life cycle, even if the animals acquire a certain immunity with age.

Digestive strongyles are parasitic worms of the digestive tract. And the bad news is that they are inevitably present in all cattle that have access to pasture. And why is that? Because their life cycle depends on an external environment, which includes grazed grass.

When cattle live outdoors and feed on fresh grass, they ingest large numbers of digestive strongyles larvae, for example. These then colonize the digestive tract and reproduce. The eggs are then evacuated via the excrement, which returns to the grass, perpetuating the cycle.

Parasitism cycle in cattle

Although infestation of young cattle with parasites is inevitable, it is not a disaster. It is important for the herd that young animals acquire immunity from strongyles. On the other hand, infestation must be controlled and regulated to ensure the animal’s well-being and the economic sustainability of the farm.

What are the consequences of parasitism in cattle?

The consequences vary according to the type of parasite and its activity in the host. Parasites can cause internal damage, leading to digestive problems, reduced nutrient absorption and internal bleeding. In the most serious cases, this can lead to the death of the animal.

More generally, parasites weaken animals’ immune systems, making them more vulnerable to other diseases and less productive. The result is weight loss, stunted growth and reduced milk production. All of which means a significant loss of income for farmers.

Did you know? The cost of a digestive strongyles infestation in cattle can be in excess of €100/day per animal.

How can we prevent the risk of parasites on livestock farms?

There are various ways of preventing infestation, or at least limiting it. First of all, it’s important to inspect pastures. It’s more important to rotate the pastures. Parasite pressure on a pasture increases with the number of cattle per hectare, the time spent on the same spot and the weather conditions.

While eggs are excreted by cows year round, the development of larvae outdoors is linked to temperature and weather conditions. Depending on the type of parasite, a humid climate and a temperature range around 20 to 25 Celsius degrees can accelerate the parasite cycle. Conversely, dry weather and lower or higher temperatures can slow it down.

To minimize the risk of infestation, a number of factors need to be controlled:

  • Habitat management: pasture rotation, cleanliness and overall management of building facilities.
  • The animals: weight loss, sudden changes in behavior, frequent diarrhea, respiratory or skin problems are all signs that can indicate a high parasite load.
  • Performance monitoring: internal parasitism will affect the development and productivity of affected animals. Decreases in production or fertility are indicators that need to be monitored.

cow with parasitism issue

How should parasitism be managed in cattle?

There is a delicate balance to be struck between the need to promote immunity in a herd and the risk of major economic losses if the infestation is too high. A general drug treatment for the whole herd can have a negative impact by encouraging parasite resistance. Regular contact with parasites allows the herd to develop progressive immunity.

This is particularly important in younger animals. In addition, it is necessary to carry out regular individual monitoring and to use a collective estimate of the parasite load present via coproscopic analyses (faecal egg-count).

This individualized control is known as Targeted Selective Treatment (TST).

Did you know? TST can increase productivity up to 1.4kg of milk per cow per day.

It may also be worth supplementing cattle rations to prevent the risk of parasites. The solutions offered by TIMAC AGRO help to improve the performance and well-being of our animals. The technologies act on various parameters:

  • Reduces the mobility of intestinal strongyles larvae
  • Prevents the risk of stress caused by internal parasitism
  • Maintains animal performance, growth and development

All the actions of TIMAC AGRO solutions contribute to animal welfare and help limit the financial losses caused by internal parasitism.