C


Cow manure containing fl uke eggs must land in water. If the cow is wading in water and drop- ping manure, eggs hatch in about a month if the water is above about 55 degrees.


Timing of treatment for cattle fl ukes is important.


72 The Cattleman April 2014


attle in the U.S. can get 2 types of liver fl ukes — the cattle fl uke, Fasciola hepatica, and deer fl uke, Fascioloides magna. The cattle fl uke is most common and most widely distributed, ac- cording to Dr. James Hawkins, consultant for Merial Animal Health, Jackson, Miss. “The deer fl uke can be very diffi cult to


control in cattle. Both species of fl ukes can kill cattle, but it is unusual to see cattle fl uke actually killing cattle. Most of the time, we just see chronic slowly-developing disease that reduces weight gain or causes weight loss and reduces overall animal health. Cows can be- come poor doers and even- tually get culled,” says Hawkins. Flukes dam- age the liver, which may set up cattle for other problems, such as red-


water disease. “Liver damage affects


virtually everything the body needs to do in converting nutri- ents into utilizable proteins, energy,


vitamins, etc. Liver fl ukes will affect gain in


young cattle, but this is usually a slow-developing prob- lem compared to the effect of gastrointestinal nematodes [worms],” says Hawkins.


Compare liver fl uke damage to worm damage Researchers at the Louisiana State University Experi-


ment Station, Alexandria, sought to discover whether worms or liver fl ukes are the most important internal parasite in cattle. What happens if cattle have both? Researchers took weaned beef replacement heifers


from other university farms to breed and send back as bred heifers. The heifers were divided into 4 groups of 24 head per


group. “One group was treated with injectable ivermectin — to kill GI [gastrointestinal] tract nematodes and noth- ing else,” says Hawkins. Another group was treated for liver fl ukes only. Another group was treated for worms and fl ukes. The fourth group served as untreated controls. “They did this for many years, but the initial study was


for 4 years. Dr. J.C. Williams and Dr. Loyacano published the results,” Hawkins says. In young cattle the GI nematodes have the most pro-


found impact on gain, the research shows. “These cattle were on pasture and in winter were on planted ryegrass,


thecattlemanmagazine.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108