Why are dairy cows coughing at the moment?
Lungworm larvae are a common cause of coughing and irritation in the respiratory systems of dairy cows in summer time.
As the number of grazing rotations adds up, so too does the larval burden on the pastures cows are grazing.
As a result, increased amounts of larvae are ingested by cows. These larvae migrate from the gut, through the bloodstream, to the lungs. Here they trigger an immune response, which manifests as coughing.
Why is coughing bad for dairy cows?
The most productive dairy cow is one that spends the most time eating, ruminating and resting.
Anything that disrupts a cow's routine, e.g. coughing or an irritated respiratory system, is going to reduce our cow's overall energy intake and, in turn, milk yield.
In bad cases there can also be knock on effects on body condition and fertility. If coughing persists and/or becomes serious pneumonia can ensue – which is a disastrous condition in bovines.
What is an ODR reading?
An Ostertagia ODR reading from a bulk tank milk sample is a clue about how hard your cows are having to work against, or have recently had to work against, stomach worm larvae on pasture.
Indirectly, it is an indication of how much stomach worm larvae are on your grazing block.
While we would not expect to see stomach worm symptoms (scour/condition loss) manifesting in adult cows, because of their natural immunity, this immunity is not free.
The immune system requires dietary energy to function and if the immune system is forced to work very hard, e.g. where there is a big larval challenge on pasture, it will pull more energy to do so.
Unfortunately, this means that there is less energy for milk production.
How can I worm dairy cows in milk?
The only active available to dairy farmers, that doesn’t require a milk withdrawal period post treatment, is eprinomectin. This ingredient belongs in the clear wormer, or ML wormer class. It is a close relation of ivermectin. It is available in pour-on (most common) and injectable formats.
It is effective in killing both stomach worm (Ostertagia) and lungworm at treatment, and preventing reinfection with the parasites for up to 28 days thereafter.
Why are dairy cows coughing at the moment?
Lungworm larvae are a common cause of coughing and irritation in the respiratory systems of dairy cows in summer time.
As the number of grazing rotations adds up, so too does the larval burden on the pastures cows are grazing.
As a result, increased amounts of larvae are ingested by cows. These larvae migrate from the gut, through the bloodstream, to the lungs. Here they trigger an immune response, which manifests as coughing.
Why is coughing bad for dairy cows?
The most productive dairy cow is one that spends the most time eating, ruminating and resting.
Anything that disrupts a cow's routine, e.g. coughing or an irritated respiratory system, is going to reduce our cow's overall energy intake and, in turn, milk yield.
In bad cases there can also be knock on effects on body condition and fertility. If coughing persists and/or becomes serious pneumonia can ensue – which is a disastrous condition in bovines.
What is an ODR reading?
An Ostertagia ODR reading from a bulk tank milk sample is a clue about how hard your cows are having to work against, or have recently had to work against, stomach worm larvae on pasture.
Indirectly, it is an indication of how much stomach worm larvae are on your grazing block.
While we would not expect to see stomach worm symptoms (scour/condition loss) manifesting in adult cows, because of their natural immunity, this immunity is not free.
The immune system requires dietary energy to function and if the immune system is forced to work very hard, e.g. where there is a big larval challenge on pasture, it will pull more energy to do so.
Unfortunately, this means that there is less energy for milk production.
How can I worm dairy cows in milk?
The only active available to dairy farmers, that doesn’t require a milk withdrawal period post treatment, is eprinomectin. This ingredient belongs in the clear wormer, or ML wormer class. It is a close relation of ivermectin. It is available in pour-on (most common) and injectable formats.
It is effective in killing both stomach worm (Ostertagia) and lungworm at treatment, and preventing reinfection with the parasites for up to 28 days thereafter.