04/10/2025
Is your herd showing signs of poor performance or weight loss? It could be liver fluke.
While severe cases can lead to obvious symptoms like anemia, diarrhea, and "bottle jaw", a swollen area under the jaw, a more subtle, subclinical infection is often the true profit-eater. These milder cases can still result in reduced growth rates, poor fertility, and decreased milk yield, costing you valuable resources without a clear reason why.
The good news? The housing period is the perfect time to fight back. By administering a targeted treatment for fluke as your cattle come inside, you're directly addressing the parasites they picked up during grazing. This crucial step helps them recover, reduces stress, and sets them up for a healthier winter.
But the benefits don't stop there. A strategic treatment plan at housing helps to break the parasite cycle, meaning you can turn out "clean" cattle in the spring. This proactive approach helps to reduce the parasite burden on your pastures, benefiting not just your cattle but also other livestock that may graze the same land, such as sheep.
Don't let fluke hold your herd back. Talk to your animal health advisor to determine the best plan for your farm and ensure your cattle are protected. A healthier herd starts with smart parasite control.