As a cattle producer, you are constantly managing to give your herd the best chance at production, health and well-being. Unfortunately, an unseen obstacle can be working in the background to derail your efforts: internal parasites.

Since its introduction into the U.S. in the late 1800s, the horn fly has become a persistent challenge for livestock producers in pasture-based systems. For beef and dairy operations, horn flies are more than a nuisance; they contribute to measurable losses in weight gain, milk production and overall animal performance.

Fly control in beef cattle continues to be an in-demand topic each year as the potential resistance to conventional fly tags and the introduction of garlic as a feed ingredient to mitigate flies becomes more prevalent. Fly control management is important to minimize the spread of disease and to minimize the negative impacts on livestock production.

Destructive rooting and wallowing are the obvious signs of a feral hog population moving into a farm, ranch or suburban neighborhood. Using their long, distinctive snouts, they dig up and turn over soil as they search for grubs, worms and vegetative material in pastures, corn crops and golf courses.

Several serious livestock diseases are caused by a group of bacteria called clostridia that can produce deadly toxins. Many cattlemen are familiar with blackleg, tetanus and enterotoxemia, but some may not be familiar with redwater.

As parasites continue to adapt, the cattle industry must do the same to stay ahead of them. With no new molecules on the horizon, we must take a proactive approach to our deworming programs.

A California study has found that one wolf can cause up to $162,000 in losses due to increased stress, reduced growth and reduced pregnancies.

For cattle producers, feral swine aren’t just another wildlife species to be ignored or even tolerated. These wild pigs cut into profit margins, destroy land and threaten the livelihoods and buying power of landowners and consumers.

Internal parasites can dramatically alter how an animal’s immune system functions, weakening its ability to respond to preventive health protocols like vaccinations.