Dewormer Blocks

[SuperDog]

Does anyone have any experience with these dewormer blocks made by Safeguard? I was thinking it would be an easy way to worm the cattle without having to contain them.

[francismilker]

I don't have any experience with the blocks, but I've used the safeguard pellets unsuccessfully on young cattle. I'm just not satified with the results of safeguard. It seems to be milder than Ivomec and not as effective.

I would be concerned when using the blocks as to how much each individual animal's intake actually was. Sometimes, when dosages are consumed a little at a time, the parasites could potentially build up an immunity to the drug.

[ozark_jewels]

I don't have any personal experience with the blocks. Safeguard is found to be very ineffectual in many areas now. It still works on tapeworms, but not stomachworms(bloodsuckers) which are the main concern. I don't bother with Safeguard anymore......too much money for to little result.
It *is* safe......even for the worms.

[linn]

We usually only use wormer blocks as a backup after we have used a pour-on.

[LuckyLegs]

Tried the blocks, they just don't work reliably. You don't know how much each animal is getting and they are rather weak. I use Ivomec Eprinex pour-on. Just run them into the chute or squeeze between some gates - takes 5 minutes. I also alternate wormer brands so as to minimize parasite immunity build-up

PML

[mtman]

dont worm for the heck of it how do you know they have worms, i think a lot of people worm to much for no reason

[Tad]

Safe guard is a waste of money IMO. Proably hard to tell who gets how much with a block. We got 5L of Cydectin today, we do the cows in the fall when the come in off pasture. Usually see a several hundred pound pickup in thte milk tank so it must do something!

[Ronney]

Superdog, we don't have those things here for pretty much the reason that Francismilker stated in his second paragraph. Better that you spend the dollars on a drench that is going to be effective for your cattle in your area.

Mtman, I agree with your post wholeheartedly. For years it's been dinned into us that we should be drenching on a regular basis irrespective of whether the stock needed it or not. Now we've got ourselves to the point where drench resistance has become a very real thing and we're very close to having ruined one of our greatest tools. I drench on a needs-to basis and there are cows on this farm that haven't been drenched for several years. Some of the older milking cows need it twice a year, mainly for Liver Fluke which is a killer in my area, and I guess with increasing age the ability to deal with producing milk, being pregnant, and keeping her own body weight up means that dealing with a worm burden of any type becomes more difficult.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[bigmudder77]

i got this worming stuff that is pellets, in a small bag and you mix it with there feed. it didnt work at all. i just had a neghiboring farmer bring some of his stuff over and do it for me, since i fixed his truck he owed me and was happy to use that as payment

[agmantoo]

Many cattle have a natural resistance to parasites. I worm only as appearance indicates the need. Have you ever thought who worms all those cattle in India? The answer is no one! Breaking the parasite life cycle is the best thing to eliminate parasites. Rotating pastures is a simple fix.

[Lazy J]

Originally Posted by bigmudder77

i got this worming stuff that is pellets, in a small bag and you mix it with there feed. it didnt work at all.

How did you determine that the pellets "...didn't work at all."? Did you conduct fecal egg counts before and after the treatment?

Jim

[ozark_jewels]

Cattle aren't nearly as susceptable to parasites as many animals, especially if rotated.
Our Jerseys are very rarely wormed(maybe once every two years if they need it). They are not rotated.
The dairy herd is rotated and most of them have never been wormed.