Bovine Gastrointestinal Parasites: Welfare Impact

Key Welfare Facts

Gastrointestinal worm infections cause reduced growth rates, poor body condition, and subclinical production loss.
Type 1 ostertagiasis in calves causes profuse watery diarrhoea, weight loss, and significant welfare compromise.
Type 2 ostertagiasis in adult cattle emerges from arrested larvae, causing severe disease in winter housing.
Strategic anthelmintic treatment based on seasonal risk and faecal egg counts reduces worm burden effectively.
Anthelmintic resistance is an emerging concern requiring strategic rotation and targeted selective treatment.
Pasture management including safe grazing and appropriate stocking reduces exposure without reliance on treatments.

Welfare Assessment

Bovine parasite control welfare requires strategic planned treatment rather than routine preventive treatments. Working with a vet to develop a parasite control plan using targeted selective treatment preserves anthelmintic efficacy for future welfare protection.

What You Can Do

Develop a strategic parasite control plan with a vet based on seasonal risk and faecal egg counts
Use targeted selective treatment rather than routine whole-herd treatments to manage resistance
Implement pasture management strategies reducing exposure on heavily contaminated land
Monitor anthelmintic efficacy through faecal egg count reduction tests after treatment