Cattle are susceptible to a range of parasites from a young age. From the day they start nibbling at grass, calves are ingesting parasitic larvae that live on the grass. Once inside the calf, these larvae grow to become adults and start to damage the gut lining. A damaged gut wall is unable to absorb nutrients as efficiently as it should. Over time, the calf will start to loose weight and develop diarrhoea (also known as scours).
To prevent reduced growth rates and poor condition in your calves they should be drenched from 8 weeks of age onwards. It is highly recommended to drench monthly as the life cycle as most gut parasites is 28 days. Make sure you use a veterinary recommended double action drench.
For more information on what drenches to use, contact the LASS team on 027 VET LIFE
