Anticipating the Worms: A Guide for Dairy Heifers

Dairy farmers in New Zealand are being urged to adopt new strategies for managing worms in young heifers. The resource, titled 'Wormwise for Dairy Heifers', covers the critical period from a heifer’s first winter right until she joins the milking herd.

Wormwise programme manager, Ginny Dodunski, emphasized the necessity for farmers to familiarize themselves with these principles. The goal is to lessen reliance on failing chemicals traditionally used for worm management in young stocks.

Dodunski pointed out the significant on-farm variation in worm control practices for this age group, highlighting the need for standardized approaches. She stressed that effective farm-specific monitoring should replace outdated drench schedules.

As worm resistance to certain drenches becomes more prevalent, farmers are encouraged to ensure the effectiveness of their current drench practices. It’s essential to adapt drench choices and timings according to specific farm conditions rather than relying on pre-set recipes.