As the Summer months approach, its time to consider protecting your cattle ahead of the grazing period. With that, we have administration videos for some of our products typically used while cattle are at grass. For more information on any of these products, talk to your vet.
Repidose Bolus
The ideal approach to controlling lungworms, gut worms and stomach worms is to use a wormer that allows some exposure to the worm larvae but kills adult worms before they cause clinical signs of disease.
Repidose bolus provides season long protection. The product’s pulse release mechanism strategically releases a dose of oxfendazole into the animal’s system every 21 days. The pulse release system prevents clinical signs of disease by killing worms every 21 days while at the same time enabling the animal to generate immunity to gut worms and lungworm. With 21 weeks cover the bolus is ideally suited to grass-based systems especially replacement heifers.
Repidose is the only bolus on the market for the prevention and treatment of lungworm, stomach worms and gut worms. The bolus is divided into seven individual compartments or chambers. Every three weeks, a therapeutic dose of the anthelmintic oxfendazole is released into the animal’s gut. This kills worms at all stages of development.
How to use Repidose Bolus
Target weight at time of administration: 100kg – 400 kg
Active ingredient: Oxfendazole
1 bolus per animal
Withdrawal periods: Meat & Milk – 7 months. Do not administer to cattle producing milk for human consumption
Full video on the use of Repidose pulse release bolus
Butox Pour On
Mild weather combined with rainfall provides the perfect environment for nuisance flies to multiply. Flies can cause a state of unease in the parlour leading to occasions of flying clusters. Flies can interfere with the grazing routine of cattle and this may cause a reduction in milk and butterfat production. Their impact does not end there, they are all capable of transmitting viruses, bacteria and certain parasites.
Butox PO administration video
How to use Butox Pour-On
Indicated for the control of flies and lice in cattle.
Active ingredient: Deltramethrin
Withdrawal periods: Meat – 18 days. Milk – 12 hours. In dairy herds, we advise to administer after evening milking.
Pour the dose along the animal’s spine from the base of the head to the tail.
The person applying should wear gloves.
For fly control, a single application provides protection for 6 to 10 weeks (depending on the infestation, fly species and weather). If flies remain an issue thereafter, it is advised to repeat the application.
Butox PO dose rates for cattle
For more information on any of the above products, contact your vet
With temperatures slowly on the rise, next on the agenda – fly season
Impact on production and spread of disease
Anyone who has worked with cattle during the summer months needs little reminding of the annoyance which flies can cause. They can be responsible for a state of unrest in the parlour for both cows and milker.
The constant source of irritation at grass interferes with normal grazing activity and has been shown to cause a reduction in milk and butterfat production.
They are also capable of transmitting viruses, bacteria and certain parasites. Flies are implicated in the spread of common diseases such as ‘summer mastitis’ and ‘pink eye’.
Why choose Butox Pour-On this summer?
Butox Pour On contains the active ingredient, deltamethrin. Butox provides the longest protection available on the market (10 WEEKS) against flies. Product information:
Butox Pour On is indicated for the prevention and treatment of flies and lice in cattle and sheep
Contains the active ingredient deltamethrin
Provides up to 10 weeks protection against flies*
Safe to use during pregnancy and lactation. 18 day meat and 12 hour milk withdrawal periods for cattle. Best to apply this product after evening milking and ensure that the full withdrawal period is respected
30ml dose for cattle over 300kg. The 2.5 liter pack will treat 83 cows
Sold in 250ml, 1 and 2.5 liter packs
It is advised to pour the dose along the animal’s spine from the base of the head to the tail. The person applying should wear gloves.
Butox in cattle
Indications
Dose rate
Flies
Prevention and treatment of flies on calves and other cattle
Up to 100kg: 10ml 100kg – 300kg: 20ml Over 300kg: 30ml
Lice
Prevention and treatment of biting and sucking lice on calves and adult cattle
10ml per animal irrespective or weight
Types of flies
There are 5 broad categories in Ireland:
House or stable flies
Face flies
Head flies
Warble flies
Blowflies
Stable flies
Also known as biting house flies, they are mostly found close to buildings inhabited by animals and man. During warm wet weather they may enter sheds and be an annoyance to housed cattle, a particular concern for feedlot cattle. The irritation caused by their bites results in a reduced feed conversion efficiency affecting both meat and milk production.
Face flies
These are the top offenders for annoyance of cattle at pasture. Worst case scenario they can also cause damage to the eye tissue of affected animals. They have been linked to the transmission of Moraxella bovis the bacteria responsible for ‘pink eye’.
Head flies
They are often present in large swarms. Due to the intense irritation and annoyance, their presence can result in self-inflicted wounds (from scratching). They pose a risk for “pink eye” and there is strong evidence to suggest head flies are involved in the transmission of summer mastitis.
Warble flies
This type of fly no longer occurs in Ireland though rare reports exist of cattle ‘gadding’ – showing hysterical behaviour – that have not been confirmed infestations. However, it is important to recognise the condition as the risk of infestation may still exists with importation of animals.
Infestation is associated with the larval stage which over-winters in the animal and then appears as soft, painful lumps on the hide the following May-June. As a result, warble flies may cause issues with subsequent carcase and hide damage. Suspected warble fly infestations should be reported immediately to the Department of Agriculture.
Blow flies
Mostly associated with fly strike in sheep, cattle can succumb to infestation too. Large populations of these adult flies are associated with poor waste management and suboptimal hygiene.
Treatment and control
Indoor environment
Removing or at least reducing the source of infection is the most useful approach in controlling stable flies. Areas of manure/straw/decaying matter should not be allowed to accumulate as these areas provide the perfect environment for flies to breed.
Pasture management
Reduction in the use of fields bordering woodlands has been advised in the peak risk period (June-September) where possible in the control of head flies.
Animal options
Pour-on and spray preparations together with insecticide impregnated ear tags are widely used to reduce fly annoyance. For head flies a number of repellent creams are available for application around the base of the horns however many of these only prevent skin contact.
In other words they do not reduce the annoyance caused by flies. Pour-on products applied at the dosing intervals recommended by the manufacturer will also aid control. It is best practice to start fly control early in the season (to reduce buildup of the fly population).
There are many products on the market and it is most advisable to read the guidelines supplied by the manufacturers and adhere to exact instructions regarding administration, dose, frequency of use and withdrawal periods.
In summary, the annoyance caused to cattle by flies is a real issue which has implications for both animal health and welfare. Remember to start fly control treatment in time this summer.
For more information on Butox Pour On talk to your vet.
References *Depending on the degree of infestation, fly species and weather conditions
Warm weather and moisture provide the perfect environment for flies to multiply. Butox Pour-On can provide up to 10 weeks protection against flies for your cattle.
Rainfall across the country this spring has been lower than average. In comparison to the period of March 1st to May 20th 2019, the weather stations in Athenry, Mullingar, Oakpark and Moorepark recorded 92mm, 154mm, 127mm and 117mm less rainfall respectively, for the same period in 2020. As a result, there has been low levels of grass growth on farms across the country in recent weeks. The last few days however, has brought much welcomed rain to certain areas and will improve grass growth.
Dairy cows grazing
The mild weather combined with the recent rainfall provides the perfect environment for nuisance flies to multiply. Flies can cause a state of unease in the parlour leading to occasions of flying clusters. Flies can interfere with the grazing routine of cattle and this may cause a reduction in milk and butterfat production. Their impact does not end there, they are all capable of transmitting viruses, bacteria and certain parasites.
Flies on this Limousin bull in early spring 2020
There are different types of flies in Ireland such asHouse or Stable flies; Face flies; Head flies: Warble flies (rare) and Blowflies. Face flies are the top offenders for annoyance of cattle at pasture. Face flies and head flies are linked to the transmission of the bacteria (Moraxella bovis) responsible for “pink eye”. In addition, there is strong evidence to suggest head flies are also involved in the spread of “summer mastitis”.
Control
Removing or at least reducing the source of infection is the most useful approach to control stable flies. Areas of manure provide the perfect environment for flies to breed and therefore, build up of manure should be avoided e.g. cow roadways. In addition, fields that border woodlands may expose cattle to higher volumes of flies and are best avoided during peak risk period (June-September) if possible.
It is best practice to start fly control early in the season and although fly numbers may seem low, they will be laying large numbers of eggs.
Control mechanisms for flies include; pour-on and spray preparations, repellent creams and insecticide impregnated ear tags. To ensure correct product usage read the guidelines supplied by the manufacturers and adhere to instructions regarding administration, dose frequency of use and withdrawal periods.
Butox Pour-On
Butox Pour-On contains deltramethrin and is indicated for the control of flies and lice in cattle. It is advised to pour the dose along the animal’s spine from the base of the head to the tail. The person applying should wear gloves. Butox Pour-On has an 18-day meat and 12-hour milk withdrawal period for cattle. For dairy herds, for example, the time to apply is after evening milking to ensure that the full withdrawal period is respected.
For fly control, a single application provides protection for 6 to 10 weeks (depending on the infestation, fly species and weather). If flies remain an issue thereafter, it is advised to repeat the application.
Butox Pour-On Dose Rate:
Up to 100kg
10ml
100 – 300kg
20ml
Over 300kg
30ml
In conclusion, to avoid animal irritation and the unseen cause of reduced animal performance by starting your fly control programme now.
