Banta spoke at the recent Northeast Texas Cow-Calf Clinic and delivered helpful information to cattle raisers in attendance. He detailed popular parasites in East Texas, signs and symptoms of infestation, and explained how the timing of treatment measures is very important.

Internal parasites are routinely a problem for East Texas cattlemen. Banta said there are a variety of worms producers in the area should be concerned about.

“Our two biggest culprits in East Texas are going to be roundworms (brown stomach worms) and lungworms,” he noted. “Roundworms can also be known as stomach worms, hairworms, intestinal worms, nematodes, and others.”

In addition, he said the roundworm group includes many species.

Additional types of worms cattle raisers may need to worry about are liver flukes, coccidia, and tapeworms, according to the specialist.

Symptoms of parasite infestations include reduced appetite, digestion and absorption.

“Because of the things those worms do to those cells in the gastrointestinal track, they don’t get as much nutrients out of that hay,” explained Banta.

In addition, affected cattle will have a reduced immunity function, Banta said.

Source: Country World