March seasonal focus

Parasites rob beef producers of economic returns

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) released figures this week on red meat earnings for 2023, with a total reported value of A$17.08 billion.

Beef exports to 100 countries were worth A$11.39 billion, up 11%. However, the value could have been even higher if parasites were controlled, according to another report from MLA. In the 2023 Meat Standards Australia ‘Australian Beef Eating Quality Insights’ report, disease conditions picked up at processing were reported to have a major impact on return from beef cattle.

Hydatids disease (caused by larval stages of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus) had the largest cost per carcase at an average $5.97, based on loss of organs alone. Hydatids also had the highest incidence of any disease condition in Queensland (13%, up from 11%), New South Wales (8%, up from 5%) and the Northern Territory. Little or no hydatid disease was detected in cattle from Tasmania and South Australia. Hydatids disease is zoonotic, meaning that it poses a threat to the health of all people living on properties where it is detected.

Liver fluke was another major cost to the beef industry, with high levels detected in cattle processed from Victoria, South Australia and NSW. On average, animals carrying a disease defect such as hydatids scored up to 6.2 MSA index points lower on MSA grading, with a greater impact in grassfed herds.

Further costs due to parasites of livestock occur at the growing stage, with MLA estimates for the cost of gastrointestinal parasites of cattle at A$119.5 million and sheep at A$665.4 million per year (MLA report B.AHE.0327, R. Shephard 2022).

Watch the ParaBoss webinar on hydatids disease in cattle here.

Read the WormBoss page about hydatids in cattle here.

Buffalo fly wave across northern Australia

Cyclones, floods, warm weather and wet paddocks have created suitable conditions for the spread of a range of insect pests including Culicoides (midges) and buffalo flies (Haematobia irritans exigua). Midges and mosquitoes are known to spread viral diseases including bluetongue, Akabane and three day sickness (bovine ephemeral fever or BEF), a disease that can be prevented with vaccination. Recent cases of BEF have been noted as far south as the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Buffalo flies cause intense irritation of cattle, preventing feeding. They also spread the skin worm Stephanofilaria, which causes itchy skin lesions. Buffalo flies spreads down as far as northern New South Wales in wet years and 2024 fits the bill.

Central Australian cattle parasites

Principal Veterinary Officer Dr. Peter Saville comments that in recent months, barber’s pole worms and coccidiosis have been found in cattle around Alice Springs. This is often in conjunction with summer storms or where young cattle are confined, especially in trap yards or weaner yards.

Coccidiosis infections are usually subclinical (inapparent) but in some mobs of weaners there may be up to a dozen or more cattle that suffer scours (sometimes with blood), weight loss and loss of body condition score that can cause infertility later in the production cycle. Taking dung samples and submitting to the lab will tell you if coccidiosis is present and approximate numbers. Although buffalo flies are seldom reported, nuisance flies including stable flies are common and can cause irritation both to the cattle and to workers while handling them.

Coccidiosis can be prevented with in-feed medication or treated with oral electrolytes and veterinary drugs. See your veterinary consultant for advice on care and products.

Tasmania bush tick search

A survey is being conducted to detect bush ticks, the vector of bovine theileriosis, a disease that causes anaemia, abortions and deaths in cattle. The ticks are small and feed on a number of livestock, wildlife and bird species, so if you find ticks on any animal or bird, please put the tick in a small container and contact Guy Westmore on 0429 852 886 or Bruce Jackson on 0407 872 520. For more information on theileriosis, see TickBoss.

Bush ticks and theileriosis cause problems in cattle across a wide range of eastern Australia as well as in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Last month we reported on cases occurring in the south coast region of NSW and cases are also being seen in the Gippsland region of Victoria. For a quick update on these pests, see the ParaBoss webinar.

Shorter protection from chemical preventives for sheep blowfly strike reported

Feedback from rural stores over recent weeks indicates that many sheep producers are seeing flystrike in their flocks within the protection period stated on the label of flystrike prevention products. This may reflect the extreme weather conditions with high rainfall and warm weather across most of southern Australia, resulting in extreme fly pressure.

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries researchers are still doing testing of blowfly maggots collected from the field in a research project sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation. If you suspect that flies on your property are becoming resistant to chemicals, submit maggots using the collection kit provided by you state sheep and wool officers or veterinary officers.

For more details on this project read the FlyBoss article here.

Wetter conditions favouring worms in sheep and goats

The wetter conditions are definitely providing ideal conditions for worms in sheep and goats. Faecal egg counts are showing plenty of worms about. Be sure to get the larval culture done (if warranted) so that any treatments are given with certainty of what species of worms you are dealing with.

The temperature and rainfall is ideal for barber’s pole worm – they love warm moist conditions, and some areas have certainly been experiencing these conditions! Remember things can go from manageable to very severe in a very short period of time as the worms are prolific egg producers.

Similarly, there are still plenty of the scour worms floating about, just because its warm does not mean that the scour worms are absent. The key message here is not to assume you have a certain type of worm present because its warm. Remember to test – don’t guess! Use this link to find out more about the importance of testing and getting the larval culture as well as the egg count! https://wormboss.com.au/tests-tools/checking-a-mob-of-sheep-or-goats-for-worms-with-a-wormtest/

Goats are particularly problematic in that there are so few products registered for control of internal parasites. Therefore, an integrated approach is strongly advised, and a close working relationship with your veterinarian, who can ensure you are staying on top of the worms.