Parasite resistance in cattle operations has moved from theory to a real-world scenario producers across the country face. Parasite management is no longer applying a dewormer. Today, ranchers must understand the parasites in a herd and learn to live with a few bugs, writes Jennifer Ryan who shares the experiences and perspectives of Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM.
Source: Vet Advantage, August 2022. Link.
Key Points:
- Antiparasitic resistance is the genetic ability of parasites to survive treatment with an antiparasitic drug that was generally effective against those parasites in the past.
- Researchers have documented an increasing level of antiparasitic resistance in grazing species, such as cattle, small ruminants, and horses, both globally and within the United States.
INSIGHTS: Navarre admits there’s still a lot to learn and a one-size fits all approach is not going to work long term. Individual locations, as well as cattle genetics play into how much resistance exists. Producers will appreciate getting this article and communications from their local veterinary teams about parasite resistance, as well as how to manage the issues.