Wormer Classes for Cattle and Sheep - White Wormers

Understanding white wormers

Last week we introduced the concept of wormer classes - outlining what exactly a wormer class is and what they kill.

This week we delve deeper in the first class, the benzimidazoles or 'white wormers'.

• It is a five-active class. In Ireland, albendazole, fenbendazole and oxfendazole are the most common benzimidazoles used. In the UK, mebendazole and ricobendazole are also popular. Note triclabendazole, a flukicide' also sits in the BZ class but is exclusively a fluke product. It sits here based on its chemical structure and mode of action.
• As well as treating the main internal worms in cattle - lungworm and GI worms, and sheep, benzimidazoles also treat ruminant tapeworm. Albendazole is a unique ingredient in that it is the only wormer that also treats liver fluke.
• BZ products are always administered orally and have a high safety index - i.e. the amount required to cause ill effects in animals is many times higher than the dosage.
• Withdrawal periods for beef range from 12 to 19 days and milk from 60 to 132 hours, depending on product.
• Lamb withdrawal periods range from 3 to 24 days, depending on product.
• White wormers do not have persistent activity post-treatment. This means animals may require more handling overall (sooner follow-up treatment/diagnostics) but can be beneficial in stimulating the animal's own natural immunity.

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Our most popular white wormer

The wormer classes

Understanding white wormers

Last week we introduced the concept of wormer classes - outlining what exactly a wormer class is and what they kill.

This week we delve deeper in the first class, the benzimidazoles or 'white wormers'.

• It is a five-active class. In Ireland, albendazole, fenbendazole and oxfendazole are the most common benzimidazoles used. In the UK, mebendazole and ricobendazole are also popular. Note triclabendazole, a flukicide' also sits in the BZ class but is exclusively a fluke product. It sits here based on its chemical structure and mode of action.
• As well as treating the main internal worms in cattle - lungworm and GI worms, and sheep, benzimidazoles also treat ruminant tapeworm. Albendazole is a unique ingredient in that it is the only wormer that also treats liver fluke.
• BZ products are always administered orally and have a high safety index - i.e. the amount required to cause ill effects in animals is many times higher than the dosage.
• Withdrawal periods for beef range from 12 to 19 days and milk from 60 to 132 hours, depending on product.
• Lamb withdrawal periods range from 3 to 24 days, depending on product.
• White wormers do not have persistent activity post-treatment. This means animals may require more handling overall (sooner follow-up treatment/diagnostics) but can be beneficial in stimulating the animal's own natural immunity.