Worming Methods?

[mesa123]

Which worming methods do you use and why?

I was going to buy the Ivermectin pour-on for my four new heifers. But I was reading the directions and it seemed to have some pretty strong warnings about timing the application to coincide with a certain point in the life cycle of cattle grubs. It sounds like I could end up doing more harm than good.

My farmer neighbor says to wait and he'll get me an injectable Ivermectin.

And I've also read a bit on this forum about daily feeding of diatomaceous earth..must say I don't really understand what it is.

I'm a little lost.

[Apryl in ND]

This is from wikipedia

"Diatomaceous earth (pronounced /ˌdaɪ.ətɵˌmeɪʃəs ˈɜrθ/) also known as diatomite or kieselgur, is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. It has a particle size ranging from less than 1 micron to more than 1 millimeter, but typically 10 to 200 microns.[1] This powder has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder, and is very light, due to its high porosity. The typical chemical composition of oven dried diatomaceous earth is 80 to 90% silica, with 2 to 4% alumina (attributed mostly to clay minerals) and 0.5 to 2% iron oxide.[1]

Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is used as a filtration aid, as a mild abrasive, as a mechanical insecticide, as an absorbent for liquids, as cat litter, as an activator in blood clotting studies, and as a component of dynamite. As it is also heat-resistant, it can be used as a thermal insulator."

I use it to dust my animals if they have lice and also pour it on the ground for my chickens to roll in for mites. You can also pour it on the ground around tomato plants for cut worms ect. The way it works is that it's so fine that it clogs and cuts bugs up and kills them. I wouldn't feed it to my animals though because if it's like fiberglass to a bug, what do you think it would do to internal organs over time? A lot of people do feed it though and swear by it.

Also, are your heifers dairy heifers? You aren't supposed to use ivermectin injectable on dairy cattle of breeding age. I think cydectin is okay though.

[Hogleg]

A recent article in Stockman Grass Farmer gives a recipe for a natural wormer that does not kill beneficial insects such as the dung beetle. The recipe is 6 cups of sea solids, two cups of kelp, one cup of DE and enough apple cider vinegar to bind it together. May give it a try.

Anyone else using natural worming methods?

John

[deineria]

I use Cydectin on my Jersey heifer.

[JR05]

Hey Hogleg, what the heck is "sea solids"?

[Hogleg]

Sea salt with minerals. http://www.seaagri.com/

I bet any mineral salt product would work. Have not tried this yet, still a lot of calving going on.