Controlling Parasites Contributes to Heifer Welfare

When it comes to raising healthy heifers in a humane fashion, preventing infectious disease is only part of the battle. Internal and external parasites also can take a toll on heifers’ wellbeing and limit their production potential as well.

Parasite control comprises a significant portion of the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association’s Gold Standards III, which address animal welfare.

“Heifers are more susceptible to damage from parasite infections than adult cattle, negatively affecting their growth potential and ability to reach breeding size,” says Kevin Tobey, DVM, professional services veterinarian for Novartis Animal Health. “Research shows that deworming heifers three times between birth and breeding provides a significant advantage in pregnancy rates.”

The most common internal parasites affecting dairy cattle are roundworms, flukes, tapeworms and coccidian. Common external parasites of concern include grubs, lice and mites.

The Gold Standards III emphasizes that effective parasite control will vary considerably between operations. Consider the following when you are setting up your parasite control program:

When planning a herd parasite control program, give thought to the following:

Note that specific environmental challenges such as herd size, geographic location, pasture and housing dynamics, and prevalence of certain parasite species all play roles in the specific control measures that an individual operation will need to take.