Cattle Health at Elanco

The main worm challenges for grazing cattle are^1,2:

• Ostertagia ostertagi: The most clinically important. Causes parasitic gastroenteritis during the grazing season. Re-emergence of inhibited larvae cause type II ostertagiasis (severe often fatal diarrhoea) in late winter.
• Cooperia oncophora: Often the most common gutworm in the first grazing season. Causes parasitic gastroenteritis and can have a major impact on growth rates.
• Dictyocaulus viviparous (lungworm): Causes bronchitis and pneumonia resulting in persistent coughing, laboured breathing, weight loss and death in extreme cases. Can cause severe disease in adult animals where no immunity is present.

Cattle naturally acquire immunity to gut and lungworms while grazing. This immunity is maintained by continual exposure while at pasture. Two doses of an appropriate worming treatment, the first at turn out, the second eight weeks later, effectively manages gut worm burdens in the animal and on the pasture, giving optimum growth rates while allowing some exposure to worms to stimulate immunity.³

Find out more about worm control in cattle.

References:

• Cows manual.
• AHDB Beef BRP manual 9 Controlling worms and liver fluke in cattle for better returns.
• Vercruysse et al, Vet Para 58 (1995) 27-34, Control of gastrointestinal nematodes in first grazing season calves by two strategic treatments with doramectin.

Products for this parasite:

• Combinex™ oral suspension for sheep and cattle
• Dectomax™ 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep
• Dectomax™ 5 mg/ml pour-on solution for cattle

Liver fluke can cause significant issues in both sheep and cattle. The risk varies throughout the year, meaning different approaches are needed to manage the challenges.

The infectious stages of liver fluke (metacercaria) are ingested by cattle and sheep as they graze. These infectious cysts hatch in the gut to release the early immature liver fluke, which migrates from the gut to attack the liver. They tunnel through the liver, damaging liver cells and blood vessels until they reach the bile ducts. The immature and adult fluke in the bile ducts feed on blood and continue to cause damage to the liver. Depending on the number of fluke in the liver, the effects can range from extensive liver damage and death, to less severe damage with a decrease in liver function and a loss of productivity for the animal.

The objective of liver fluke control is to reduce the risk of infection to a level that does not impact on animal welfare or affect the efficiency or economics of production.

Liver fluke has spread over the last decade and is now found across the country.
This is due to:

• Greater movement of infected animals
• Inadequate (or sub-optimal) quarantine treatments
• Changing weather patterns – increased rainfall and milder winters

Find out more about what liver fluke is, why it is such a problem at different times of the year, and how to manage fluke on farm.

Products for this parasite:

• Fasinex™ 240 oral suspension for cattle

Coccidiosis is a disease of the intestinal tract caused by single celled intracellular parasites of the genus Eimeria. Young stock such as lambs and calves are at highest risk of disease¹, there are over 20 different species of coccidia in cattle and sheep which are host specific with no cross infection; it is important to note that not all species of coccidia are pathogenic:

As it progresses through its life cycle the parasite reproduces within the cells that line the gut causing the cells to rupture, damaging the villi. This damage reduces the amount of nutrients absorbed, causing ill health, poor growth rates and leaving animals susceptible to other diseases. However, the obvious signs of disease (such as diarrhoea) do not appear until after a significant level of damage has already happened, leading to reduced growth rate and economic loss.²

Find out more about coccidiosis and how to treat in cattle.

References

• Taylor, M. A., and J. Catchpole, 1994: Coccidiosis of domestic ruminants. Appl. Parasitol. 35, 73-86.
• Efficacy of diclazuril against naturally acquired Eimeria infectons in suckling beef calves and economic benefits of treatment. J Agneessens, L Goossens, P Veys and D Gradwell. Cattle Practice, The Journal of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, 2005, vol. 13, p231-234.

Lice are mainly a problem with housed cattle in the winter. Lice can reduce cattle productivity and downgrade the leather. Both sucking and biting lice can cause symptoms including itching, hair loss and hide damage. Sucking lice can also cause anaemia.

Find out more about lice and how to treat in cattle.

Products for this parasite:

• Dectomax™ 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep
• Dectomax™ 5 mg/ml pour-on solution for cattle
• Flypor™ 4% w/v pour on solution for cattle

Mange mites cause irritation, thickened scaly skin, hair loss, hide damage and reduced productivity. It is mainly a problem in autumn, winter and early spring. Different mites are commonly found in different body areas and require treatment of the animal and environmental measures.

Find out more about mange and how to treat it in cattle

Products for this parasite:

• Dectomax™ 10 mg/ml solution for injection for cattle and sheep
• Dectomax™ 5 mg/ml pour-on solution for cattle
• Flypor™ 4% w/v pour on solution for cattle

Flies can cause irritation, stress and seriously affect cattle productivity. The main months for fly problems are May-August, but due to changing weather patterns the season can change. The most common species that affect cattle productivity are:

• Non-biting flies – house flies and face flies – these flies do not bite, but they breed easily in manure, quickly forming large numbers which can cause great irritation and transmit diseases. Animals that are distracted by flies will graze less and hence not perform as well.
• Biting flies – horse flies and stable flies – these flies deliver extremely painful bites, with both males and females feeding on blood. Horn Flies are blood sucking flies and are extremely irritating and can cause production losses.

Find out more about cattle flies and how to treat them.

Products for this parasite:

• Flypor™ 4% w/v pour on solution for cattle