Using anthelmintics

Anthelmintic	Symbol	Pour on	Injectable	Drench	Bolus	In feed mix
Benzimidazole (white)
Levamisole (yellow)
Ivermectin  (clear)

Click here for a list of which products are in which group

REMEMBER: Resistance develops to the group, not the individual product

1.Weigh cattle or use a weigh-tape to estimate: calculate dose based on the heaviest animal or individual weights

2. Calibrate drench gun and ensure products are stored correctly

3. Securely restrain animal and administer treatment correctly

• • Drench: ensure cattle swallow the full amount
• • Injectables: check data sheet and inject in the correct site

^{(Diagram adapted from Norbrook)}

• • Pour on: To ensure the product is absorbed well, apply pour-on along the flattest part of the back, from the withers to the tail head, making sure this area is clean and dry before application. Click here for some hints and tips!
• • Bolus: Take care to avoid damage to the throat or choking. Always use the appropriate applicator, insert it from the front of the mouth, over the back of the tongue with no more than gentle, firm pressure. Once confident that the applicator is in the throat, depress the plunger to eject the bolus.

^{(Diagram adapted from COWS website)}

Check the treatment worked

Testing ensures you only use anthelmintics which work on your farm

• • • For white (1-BZ) and clear (3-ML) products: faecal egg count 10-14 days after treatment
    • For yellow (2-LV) products: faecal egg count 3-7 days after treatment

• • • If all animals in the group were treated: samples can be collected from any animals or from the ground (“collecting good samples”)
    • If some animals were left untreated: ensure samples are from treated animals!