Economic Evaluation of Deworming Strategies for Cow-calf Herds

Abstract

Approximately 75% of beef cow-calf operations use anthelmintics as part of their preventive medicine program. Most of these operations use 1 dose of an anthelmintic sometime over the year-to-year production cycle. The majority of these doses are given to cows in the fall, targeting internal parasites, grubs and lice at a convenient time-weaning. One of the primary determinants of profitability in cow-calf operations is the weaning weight of calves, and that should be a major consideration for the use of an anthelmintic.