Should I Treat My Calves for Tapeworms?

The need to treat calves for tapeworms depends in part of how likely they are to be infested and also on their likely futures. If they are destined for organic beef or dairy herds, then the answer is a definite "no," unless the deworming treatment is approved for organic livestock. In general, though, tapeworms aren't a serious problem in cattle, and so treatment is called for only after careful assessment.

  1. Breaking the Cycle

    • Internal parasites, or worms, are ongoing problems for many grazing animals, causing weight loss, inefficient use of feed and sometimes nutritional deficiencies. Parasite eggs are "shed" in the feces of infected animals and survive in standing water and pasture forage. Grazing on heavily used pastures means cattle are constantly reinfected. Breaking the parasite life cycle means stringent pasture rotation---cross-species pasture rotations often help---and the use of chemical anthelmintics or dewormers.

    Parasite Prone

    • Calves are more prone to parasites than adult cattle. According to the University of Arkansas, modern management of both dairy and beef calves includes deworming every three to four months, or until the calves are turned out onto safe (low-parasite load) pasture. Calves in feedlots, where parasites are less likely, should be tested before treatment.

    Tapeworm Treatment

    • Test calves before treating for tapeworms, too. They are a minor parasite problem in most cattle herds because infestations require forage mites as intermediate hosts. The problem occurs only if mites become infected with tapeworm larvae and cattle eat the mites while grazing. Effective treatment includes deworming with either albendazole or fenbendazole, chemical wormers commonly used in cattle, but at higher doses. Alternative treatments also may be effective.

    Effective Parasite Prevention

    • Through its Ecological Agriculture Projects, McGill University suggests many ways to manage parasite loads effectively in cattle herds. Given that chemical dewormers are becoming less useful---parasites are developing resistance---it's smart to explore better and sustainable strategies to control parasites.