Farmers all around the world need to be careful with how they use wormer. While it is vital for parasite control, overuse can have serious impacts on herds and pastures. It is also more costly if you are using wormers when they are not necessary. When you do use one, it is important to administer it effectively, especially with cattle. We want to have a look at some tips to help you do just that.

General principles

There are a number of important things you need to do generally. You should ensure you always do them to preserve the product and protect your animals.

Firstly, you must store products properly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most crucial here you need to make sure you keep them at the right temperature and away from sunlight.

Secondly, always record the expiry date and make sure you don’t use any wormer that has expired. After the expiration date the efficacy drops. As a result animals are unlike to get a proper dose.

Next, make sure you read the instructions with the wormers. They will tell you what animals each product is suitable for and precautions you need to take. More importantly, they will include information for how to administer it. Always heed this info.

Finally, always dose by liveweight where possible. The best way to do this is to weigh each individual animal with scales or a weigh band. However, that can be time consuming and difficult. If you can’t do that, choose the largest animal in the herd and use that to determine the dose.

Administering

There are generally three different methods to administer wormer. They differ by product, so always check which you should use.

The easiest option is pour on. You simply apply them along the whole length of the flattest part of the back. However, you need to ensure you are accurate here so animals get a proper dose. Most crucially, make sure any application equipment is clean and compatible.

Injectables can be fantastic, but you must follow the instructions and inject them properly to ensure a proper dose. Subcutaneous injections need to go into loose skin. As a result, the neck, shoulder, or ear are the best locations. Intramuscular wormer injections have to go into muscle. The best location for them is the muscle in the neck. Never inject into the rump of an animal.

Finally we have oral drenching. Think of this like taking something like cough medicine. It needs to be delivered effectively into the mouth. Typically the best option is to use drenching guns that send it to the back of the mouth to ensure swallowing. Bolus administration is also viable. With drenching you need to ensure the equipment is clean and will provide a proper dose. Plus, you need to make sure you keep animals calm when administering.

Talk to us about wormer

At JS Hubbuck Ltd we support clients who farm in Britain. Our goal is to provide a massive selection of useful products so you can find what you need with ease. For example, we have fertiliser to help grow crops, a selection of footwear and clothing for working, and animal health products like wormers. Whatever you need, you can speak to us for advice.