Lungworm is a highly weather-dependent parasite that’s increasingly common on farms. During optimal wet and warm weather conditions, the parasite can cause severe outbreaks of respiratory disease and production losses.
Vaccine-derived immunity to lungworm is useful for calves and youngstock where they haven’t yet built sufficient immunity from natural, low-level exposure at grass. Vaccination must be carried out before turnout, with two doses two weeks apart.
However, vaccines may not be suitable for all farms, and immunity can still be overcome by a high challenge from lungworm at grass, so other aspects of lungworm management are still important.
Save your least-contaminated pastures for your most susceptible stock.
Support youngstock to develop natural immunity through low-level exposure at grass and targeted worm treatments. Most gutworm treatments will also remove lungworm so care must be taken to ensure exposure can still take place.
Lungworm disease is increasingly being seen in adult cows where immunity is insufficient or overcome by a high challenge. Be alert to early signs of lungworm infection – coughing, unexpected yield drop, general ill-thrift.
Prepare a lungworm action plan with your vet or SQP within your overall herd health plan, to help you manage potential outbreaks, and react quickly if animals become infected.
EPRINEX® Pour-On is a tried and tested, fast-acting zero-milk withhold wormer that treats all stages of lungworm, and provides protection against reinfection for up to 28 days.
EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Jan 2023. UI-BOV-0007-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly.