The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu was convinced that careful planning based on sound information about the enemy would contribute to a successful campaign. The same can be said for a war on livestock pests, experts say. "Understanding the life cycle and some of the biology of the parasite you're trying to control allows you to intervene more intelligently as a manager," says veterinarian Louis Perino of West Texas A&M University, Canyon. What follows is a discussion of several widespread pests that affect beef cattle on pasture - the brown stomach worm (Ostertagia ostertagi), coccidia, the horn fly and face fly. This isn't intended to be a comprehensive review of every internal and external pest of concern to a cow-calf operation. Rather, the intent is to illustrate, as Perino points out, how understanding the life cycles of these troublesome organisms and using the right control tactics at opportune times can help make your effort and dollars more effective.
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