Strategic deworming in cows and the impact on reproductive status.

A strategic parasite control program in cattle is very important,but the emphasis on the dairy herd is very crucial. Farmers,herdsmen know the value of strategic worming programme as its success plays a large role in healthy reproduction, which ultimately leads to more milk production. A strategic deworming program allows a growing heifer to decrease parasite burdens and helps her focus on the really on feeding, disease prevention and growing to an appropriate breeding weight which will be a scaffold for future reproductive potentials. Animals kept on pasture need to be properly accessed, many farmers tend to mix pasture rearing in their production phase so as to reduce the cost of grains without reducing targeted daily weight gain. Parasite control is key to success of production as pasture must be managed for forage quality and limitation to parasite exposure. When animals are well fed with balanced ration ,this nutritional stability aids the immune system to fight off any disease. Animals succumb to infections basically because of stress,and stressors are of various types and forms. When the immune system is free from having to fight worms ,it can help it focus on fighting off other pathogens that might drag heifers down. The impact of stress is increased when worms are present. When the heifer is parasite-free ,there is a chance to recover from stressful times that occur in the young heifer’s development. Parasite control helps curb anorexia. The declining appetite that can occur with intestinal worm infections often leads to more days on feed to get to breeding, with less gain per day. If the heifer can gain weight sooner with the help of good parasite control, she will breed sooner and, as a result, calve sooner. An efficient rearing programme can essentially change the trajectory of her reproductive cycles for the rest of her life. Happy cows give more milk and hence more profit for the farmer,achievable with a strategic parasite control program. These programme allows the cow to improve her body condition for calving as well as sustain productive milk output. When a cow is in a better body condition, she has the ability to sustain her own life, but also that of a calf inside her. A better body condition allows her to begin ovulating and cycling sooner resulting in early conception. A cow that starts production early can maintain her spot at front-line of the milking parlor instead of being forced to propped up for the rest of her life to meet the standard.