Roundworms in cattle can reduce growth rates by up to 30% (1) so it is important not to delay the mid-season pour-on dose as this potentially leads to a loss of production as the worm burden could start to impact on growth rates. It can be hard to notice the economic impact of worms unless regular weighing is taking place as reduction in growth rates will take place before any more obvious clinical signs are seen.
When the sun starts to get hotter and our horses are spending more time in the heat, it is blissful to think the winter months have passed over. But, with the heat comes the all-dreaded flies. Trying to keep your horse and yourself away from any fly bites can be a challenge, so how can we keep the flys at bay and enjoy those sunny spring and summer days?
Summer is here, and with that the longer days, better weather and more opportunities to ride. But it’s not all good news for some of our equines. Just as we may be prone to summer associated health issues, such as hayfever, so some horses and ponies are susceptible to allergies and intolerances through the nicer weather, with one of the most common being Sweet Itch.
Managing the fly burden before an outbreak occurs will help you prevent potential production impacts. This will often mean managing the problem before fly numbers increase to a level where they can easily get out of control.
