Pour-On Dewormers - do they work?

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

This is a note I received from our NY Beef Specialist. I asked him about the info I've been reading on line about pour-on dewormers not being affective.

"I spoke with Belinda Thompson at the Cornell Diagnostic lab. She said that they are beginning to see some resistance to ivermectin wormers in sheep for sure and possibly in cattle. If producers are suspicious that their worming program is not working, she suggests doing a fecal count on a percentage of the herd, applying a de-wormer and then 3 weeks later do fecal egg counts on the same cows that were sampled initially. She also said that treating the whole herd is important in reducing resistance. So, the issue is not the application method as much as the type of anthelmentic. That being said, she does prefer the oral or injectable wormers vs pour-ons. Bottom line: do fecal egg counts to determine effectiveness of your program."

 

[cfpinz]

We had a very informative speaker at our cattleman's meeting last month on this topic. He suggested rotating a different type of wormer every time, (not just a different brand of ivermectin). We currently rotate a "good" wormer in the spring (Eprinex, Dectomax, Cydectin) and use a generic ivermectin in the fall.

cfpinz

 

[polledbull]

We here at Howard Bros. Farms in the last year started using an injectable version of ivermect (generic) and we noticed a good bit of difference in the cattle compared to the pour on we had been using . I would say that injectable is defintly better than pour on .

 

[Medic24]

Aaaahhh, the sheep and goat industry has known about this resistance issue long before it has become an issue for cattle, they have found that goats especially are having problems with resisitance no matter what wormers are being used..... this is one of those inponderables.......read or listen to so many different expert opinions...........one says we worm way too much, one say's not enough, another tells us to rotate, while still another so called expert say's to stick with one wormer until it proves ineffective...........who is right? all to some extent? Or none?

As Jeanne writes..the proof is in the pudding...and please do excuse the pun here.........the pudding being the cow manure fecal exams , usually free or very inexpensive through you local ag extension or diagnostic lab... that maybe should be the thing to tell you whne or if ity's time to change up your current worming program?
:cboy:

 

[kishvet]

FWIW - There has also been some talk recently about some of the generic ivomec pour-ons not working as well as the original. Supposedly tracing back to the carrier agent used to deliver the active ingredient through the skin to the blood supply. I have NOT seen the acutal documentation on this, only have seen in mentioned in some the vet circles.

 

[3rdgeneration farmer]

i think they do okay, just dont put it on right before a rain.

 

[CCRanch]

I have a question about pour-on wormer. Do you have to pour it down their back? I know a guiy who runs about 450 head and he strings cubes out and rides by them on his 4-wheeler and shoots the wormer on their side with the gun that comes with some of the wormers. Just wondering if it works as good. It seems logical, because it still goes in the blood stream through the skin.

 

[cfpinz]

I have a question about pour-on wormer. Do you have to pour it down their back? I know a guiy who runs about 450 head and he strings cubes out and rides by them on his 4-wheeler and shoots the wormer on their side with the gun that comes with some of the wormers. Just wondering if it works as good. It seems logical, because it still goes in the blood stream through the skin.

Does he vaccinate in the same manner? I can't answer your question but find it hard to believe it would be effective. All those drug companies don't print directions on the label for shitz and giggles.

cfpinz

 

[Chuckie]

My better judgement tells me not to tell this(my judgement has been very poor here lately), but here goes. I was sent to an orthopedic doctor one day. All of the seats lined around the walls of the lobby, and then the center seats were backed up to each other. So I sat down where there wre no people behind me. The lobby started filling up, and before long, most all of the seats were filled. Two kids sat right behind me. Soon, I went to the back to be seen by the doctor.

When I got home, my face was itching. I thought it was a hair hanging from my face. But then it felt like it was on my nose and on my neck.

I find a mirror that magnifies and a magnifying glass. And low and behold, there is this little creature crawling on me, and he was moving on pretty fast.

I get on the internet, and find out that head lice move fast. and got the bug and looked at it closer. It looked like the tip of its butt was black. This was the same thing that I found on me.

I started itching all over. (in my mind) I jumped in the shower and washed my hair nine million times and when I got out, I still felt something crawling. Make me sick thinking about it now.

I went to the closet where I keep cattle meds, and got out the pour on Ivermectin. I remember the vet telling me that they used this wormer in third wold countries where the internal parasites were severe. But, I also knew that the pour on wormers would get rid of lice on cattle.

So..........I poured some in my hands and rubbed it all over both of my arms. Probably enough for an elephant. Then I washed and vaccumed and vaccumed everything. And cleaned some more.

The ivermectin worked fast. No more critters.
I cannot believe that it worked as fast as it did, and most of all, I cannot believe that I went this long in life and had never had any kind of lice. And it really pi**ed me off that I had to go to a doctor's office to get them. It made me feel so nasty.

Felt no ill effects from the overdose(2-3cc) and probably got rid of any internal parasites from the dog licking the roof of my mouth when I was laughing hard. I hate it when he would do that.

So, I guess I am trying to say, yes, it seems to work just fine.
Chuckie

 

[Keren]

I've used them in many situations, and never had a worm problem. But, I've never had a faecal test to check if the drench was effective or not. Its possible the cattle didnt have any worm problems anyway.

CCRanch, it does work. It doesnt necessarily have to go along the backline. People with show cattle have been putting it on the sides for years, because if you put it along the backline where the hair is parted, it can sometimes burn the skin . . . which leads to skin irritations . . . and dandruff . . . and hair falling out . . . which isnt good for show cattle :lol:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Chuckie - thanks for that visual image - priceless!

 

[Beefy]

we have used ivomec pour on for years. i am seeing resistance in my own herd. it just doesnt work like it used to.

 

[MikeC]

I use Safeguard every other year and mostly injectables on the off years.

Either the paste or blocks are good.

The best way to rid worms is to de-worm 3 weeks apart, using an anthelmintic or injectable on one try and the safe guard on the other.

Worms have been hell here during the drought and shortgrass conditions.

 

[novatech]

As Jeanne writes..the proof is in the pudding...and please do excuse the pun here.........the pudding being the cow manure fecal exams , usually free or very inexpensive through you local ag extension or diagnostic lab... that maybe should be the thing to tell you whne or if ity's time to change up your current worming program?
:cboy:

Best advice yet. A lot cheaper, and why would anyone do it if not necessary?