10 September 2010

2 minute read

Europe

Tests carried out on bulk milk samples during 2009 showed that 93 per cent of the herds tested had been exposed to a high gutworm challenge. If this finding, produced from MOO tests, is extrapolated across the national herd, it would mean that over 1.7 million cows could be affected.

The tests, which were carried out on 464 farms across the UK, measured levels of antibodies to gutworms in the milk. Elevated levels of antibodies show that the cows are exposed to a high gutworm challenge from the pasture. Only five per cent of the tests showed a medium level of challenge, while just two per cent were at a low level.

A high gutworm challenge can lead to a reduction in milk production. Research has shown that removing these gutworms with the zero milk withdrawal product Eprinex® Pour On, can increase milk production by up to 2 litres per cow per day. This means that, by leaving cows untreated, dairy farmers across the UK may have lost out on nearly 1.2 billion litres of milk during 2009, with potentially recoverable losses worth approximately £281 million.

Merial Veterinary Advisor, Fiona MacGillivray says: “Many dairy farmers don’t believe that gutworm burdens are a problem, as they cause no obvious clinical effects in the adult cows. However, there is an abundance of independent research in over 5,000 dairy cows across the world which clearly shows that worming cows with eprinomectin improves both milk production and fertility.

“Any dairy farmer who really believes that he has one of the few herds which is not facing a significant gutworm challenge and would not benefit from worming his herd should consider trying the MOO test for themselves. They may have a very real and easy opportunity to increase productivity and profitability.”

TheCattleSite News Desk