Keeping your animals healthy is a year-round battle but autumn throws a particularly nasty punch when it comes to parasites. Dr Rudél Zowitsky, a technical veterinarian at Afrivet Technical and Training, joins us to shed light on strategic parasite management and common pitfalls in autumn.
Zowitsky emphasises the importance of planning, not panicking. “Many farmers mistakenly assume parasite loads decrease in autumn,” she says.
A strategic approach, however, focuses on understanding the parasite’s life cycle and targeting vulnerable stages for maximum impact.
Look out for these parasites
She dives into a specific example – the dreaded liver fluke. “These internal parasites thrive in wet conditions, so keeping your animals out of wetlands during autumn rains is crucial.”
However, if complete avoidance is not possible, Zowitsky offers solutions: “Strategic treatment with products like Eco-Fluke can tackle both adult and immature flukes, preventing future problems.”
Autumn also sees a surge in the blue tick population. “Their short life cycle allows them to multiply throughout the rainy season,” explains Zowitsky.
She highlights the importance of strategic treatment to prevent “massive egg loads that would overwinter and wreak havoc in spring”.
Products like Redline and Eraditic are recommended as effective tools for controlling tick populations. She emphasises the importance of assessing parasite burdens before autumn arrives.
In this episode, Zowitsky also discusses:
- The impact of temperature changes on livestock;
Prevention protocol; and more.
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