Managing parasites - Part 1: Don't let nematodes gobble gains

摘要

This past summer marked the second consecutive year of above average rainfall. My home pastures kept growing well through our traditional "summer slump," and there was a good cover on most fields heading into winter. Yet this year I had some of the lowest daily gains I've seen in my cattle, down by one third in some cases; and my newest livestock species, the sheep, had exceptional gains on the same pastures. This begs the question: why? Looking at the farm situation, internal parasites comes out asthe most likely answer.