Local Agriculture: Now’s the Time to Manage Parasites

The time to prepare to manage parasites on cattle is in the spring, before the weather heats up and critters start to multiply. We’ve had a late, cool spring here in Fayette County, so now is the time to think about parasites.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational and entertainment purposes. This topic may be useful for many ranchers, but has a high “yuck” factor. Please also note, I (David E. Will) am not a veterinarian or doctor. Consult your vet or doctor before taking any action.

The word parasite brings to mind television movies featuring hideous-looking creatures that suck blood from some poor person asleep in their bed. Real parasites plague most of humanity with real problems. Tapeworms, heartworms, lungworms, and intestinal parasites are among the worst.

Many think of hogs as the animals with the most parasites. All animals (including humans) are susceptible. In a pasture, wild hogs, deer, rabbits, other mammals and snails can also contribute to a parasite infection. Almost all parasite infections involve animals coming in contact with the larvae of a parasite while grazing. External parasites – ticks, lice and flies – come from close proximity with other animals already infected.

Animals typically get parasites from eating forage infected with the parasite larvae. Once the larvae are eaten, the parasites develop inside the animal over about three weeks, causing diarrhea and reduced appetite. The mature parasite then lays eggs inside the animal, and thus the manure dropping to the ground is infested. Eggs hatch in the manure and form new larvae. The larvae crawl up a nearby plant (about two to three inches) and wait to be eaten, and the parasitic circle of life begins anew.

With liver flukes, the egg matures within a snail. Animals usually pick up liver flukes near a pond. Escargot anyone? This also brings up another point. Most meat animals have their livers condemned by an inspector after slaughter. If an animal’s liver is condemned, it is sick. For an animal to be healthy it must have a healthy liver. Confinement-raised animals usually have the livers condemned at slaughter.

Some animals are more prone to getting parasites than others. Calves that get a light infection are more likely to grow up resistant to parasites than calves that are sprayed and injected with chemicals. And calves whose mothers are sprayed or dosed with an anti-parasitic chemical are not as resistant to parasites later in life. Anti-parasitic drugs seem to make the problem worse.

If a rancher has a herd of 100 animals and only six have parasites, would it make sense to poison the 100 to get rid of parasites in the six animals? No. It makes far more sense to cull the six animals. It is the six animals that spread most of the parasites around the ranch. The simplest solution – culling – saves time, money and headaches.

Most internal parasites are active when soil temperatures are 55-80 degrees. Lower or higher temperatures cause the parasites to hibernate or not develop. External parasites generally do not harm healthy animals, although many are opportunistic.

To prevent parasites, the first order of business is to stop using chemical products (pesticides) on animals and to stop using herbicides and chemical fertilizers on plants and soil. Everything that goes on or in the animal directly affects the soil. Take the example of using Ivermectin on animals. This product kills the parasites, but it also kills the dung beetle trying to put the manure in the ground. Manure does far more good buried than sitting on top of the soil.

The second order of business is to improve the health of the soil. This can be done by feeding the livestock sea salt. Sea salt minerals that are not used by the animal are deposited on the ground where they provide necessary minerals for plant growth. Sea salt also drives some parasites out of the animals.

Sea salt can be combined in equal parts with diatomaceous earth and clay to create a natural parasitic cleanser. I add kelp so the cattle will eat more of it. Some ranchers add charcoal. Adding garlic also helps rid the animal of internal and external parasites. Keep this mix in the feed trough during times of high parasite activity. The mix is cheaper than anti-parasite products and far better for the animals and the soil.

There are several natural parasite prevention and elimination products and mixes. Anti-parasitic weeds can be found in some pastures. These include wormwood, mustard, epazote and plants high in tannins. An animal needs to only take a small bite to reduce the parasitic load. Feeding the animal carrot seed, fennel seed, mustard, pumpkin seed and vitamins A, D and E have also been shown to reduce parasite loads. Shaklee Basic H product has been used as an anti-parasitic.

Rotating chicken or other fowl, sheep and goats before or after cattle enter a pasture also helps keep parasite levels low. Chickens and fowl eat the “bugs” in the manure, stopping a number of flies and parasites from becoming a problem. Goats and sheep are not bothered by the same parasites as cattle. A three to four week rotation is helpful with this mix of animals.

I also use apple cider vinegar (ACV) in the spring to de-parasitize cattle. Pour one or two gallons of ACV in 100 gallons of water and mix. Eliminate all water sources but the ACV water, until each animal has drunk at least once. This will stop a number of parasites from becoming a problem. It also helps them shed their winter coats.

Healthy soil equals healthy animals, and healthy animals equal healthy profits. And we all want those.

David E. Will is a farmer, rancher, nurseryman, landscaper, and consultant. He can be reached at 830-629-9876 or by email at dwill207@satx. rr.com