FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18 2011 WWW.FARMERSGUARDIAN.

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A 12-page Farmers Guardian special feature

BEEF
Symptoms

Edited by Katie Lomas 01772 799 450 katie.lomas@ubm.com

Robust parasite control F

armers need to ensure they have a robust winter parasite control programme in place. This was the message from leading UK veterinary parasitologists during a series of meetings organised by Novartis Animal Health. Helen Langham, Novartis product manager, says: Ectoparasites, whose lifecycles are suited to the close contact of housed beef cattle, and in particular the reemergence of a more severe form of mange known as psoroptic mange, can affect profitability. Farmers should be alert to the symptoms and recommended treatments for these parasites as we enter the winter period and also be aware of the potentially serious problem of the endoparasite liver fluke.
Mange All mites cause irritation, thickened scaly skin and hair loss. Evidence also shows mite infestation of bulls can affect liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency Lice Irritation, a rough coat and a raw appearance to the skin. The main cause for concern is the impact on productivity lice can have, particularly if the animal has other disease complications Fluke Weight loss, scours and bottle jaw (a swollen looking lump under the jaw of cattle) are some of the symptoms to look for and cattle are most at risk from late August through to winter

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Mange
Miss Langham says mange, caused by mites, has three main types; chorioptic, sarcoptic and psoroptic mange (see panel). The incidence of bovine psoroptic mange is increasing. In the first half of the 20th century psoroptic mange was the UKs most common form. The prevalence of parasites then decreased to very low levels before re-emerging in 2007. Thomas Tiley, professional services vet at Novartis, says the increase in psoroptic mange is hugely significant, is something the industry is not fully aware of yet and correct diagnosis followed by rapid treatment is vital. Psoroptic mange is caused by the psoroptes mite, a species similar to the mite which causes sheep scab. It is mainly found along the back, shoulders and tail head of cattle, causing severe dermatitis, scabs and itching,says Mr Tiley.

He says the disease, which is common in parts of continental Europe, has recently been reported in the south west of England. This is a clear indication the disease is spreading. More alarming still is the fact this particular strain of psoroptic mange is seemingly caused by a resistant mite which is proving more difficult to treat than the other types. Mange is mainly a problem in winter and early spring, and with the entire lifecycle taking place on the host, transmission is usually by direct contact between cattle. Treatments include injectable and pour-on 3-ML products and permethrin-based pour ons.

With the winter period looming beef producers should be alert to the symptoms of parasite problems.

Lice
Lice are common in cattle and are also spread by direct contact. Biting lice are most common, affecting the neck, shoulders and rump.

Sucking lice will pierce the skin of cattle and suck blood; in large numbers this can cause anaemia. Using a treatment for both lice and mange control ensures complete peace of mind, says Miss Langham. A licensed treatment used repeatedly at four weekly intervals is recommended and farmers should consult their veterinary surgeon for diagnosis and speak to a vet for the most appropriate treatment options. All cattle should be treated on the farm, at the same time if possible, and dosing guidelines should be accurately followed; under-dosing can also lead to the development of treatment-resistant lice.

important for beef farmers to be aware of fluke, as production losses can occur without noticeable symptoms. He also stresses the importance of using a product which will kill the stages of fluke present at the time. If you use a product which kills adults only, you may need to wait up to 10 weeks after housing before the immature fluke have

developed into adults and susceptible to treatment. Any cattle infected with fluke will suffer production losses during this 10-week period; at housing time, it is therefore advisable to use a triclabendazole product which kills all three stages of fluke in one dose. For mixed farms he advises considering dual species flukicides.

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30 EFFECTIVE FINISHING An increased focus on starch 34-35 BEST RESULTS A mixed ration for best finishing results 38-39 BUYER PROTECTION Information on breeding warranties and insurance 40 BETTER MARGINS The importance of silage analysis

Mange types
Chorioptic mange The most common and mild form of mange, caused by a surface mite chewing mainly on hair and skin scales, affecting the animals neck, legs, hooves and tail head Sarcoptic mange Caused by a mite which burrows into the
animals skin laying eggs in small tunnels, affecting the neck area, the loin, the inner thigh and tail Psoroptic mange Severe, causing intense itching; bacterial infections are common and in extreme cases the infected animals can die

Fluke
Another key parasite of importance at this time of year is liver fluke. Mr Tilley says it is especially