n The Dairy Mail - Fight the bite parasites

Abstract

Combating parasites in your dairy herd, needs the double-barrelled approach of good management practices and a suitable vaccination programme. Parasites that can affect dairy cows significantly, include a wide range of internal and external organisms.

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Visible, external parasites such as ticks, flies, mosquitoes and midges, have the potential to both irritate and infect animals. The irritation factor leads to less feed intake and more activity, which leads to a lower milk yield. Diseases such as heartwater, Rift Valley fever, anaplasmosis and lumpy skin disease, are all illnesses carried by these vectors.