Take the first step in controlling pneumonia this autumn with a Pre-Housing Dose.

Why dose cattle at this time of year? Cattle will have acquired both a gut worm and lungworm burden during the grazing season. Lungworm is the most significant parasite for Irish cattle being housed in the autumn. Lungworm cause the lungs to function less efficiently and makes them more susceptible to both viruses and bacteria at housing. Lungworm larvae and adults are killed and removed quickly after dosing, but it can take 2 to 3 weeks for the lung tissue to heal.

Would it not be better to treat lungworm infections while the weanlings are still at grass? They would be in a healthy outside environment and it would allow healing to occur without the challenges of dust, ammonia, viruses etc. This a Pre-Housing Dose (PHD).  It is not an extra dose.  There are wormers that have a persistent effect against both lungworm and stomach worms.  Cattle that receive a PHD with Dectomax and are dosed within 5 weeks of housing, do not require another worm dose at housing.

Advantages of a Pre-Housing Dose;

1. Cattle are housed with a “clean set of lungs”, are free of lungworm and have recovered from the damage that the worms have caused. This means animals are healthier and better able to fight off the challenges of viral pneumonia at housing.
2. Cattle will perform better for the last few weeks at grass as they will be worm free, leading to better daily live weight gains.
3. Lice control. If a pour-on product is used, it will kill off both the adult lice and the nymphs/larvae when they hatch from the eggs in the next 5 weeks resulting in lice-free cattle entering the sheds.