69. Internal parasites (worms) in young ruminants: Part Two. Growing young stock faster to better handle worms

Could bigger, faster-growing young ruminants be better equipped to handle incoming worm L3 larvae than smaller, slower growing animals of the same age? Yes, potentially! In our latest podcast, the second in our four part series all about nutrition and worms, we explore the reasons why fast growing heavier lambs and calves (expressed as a % of mature weight) are potentially more resilient in the face of incoming infective L3 worm larvae.   Practical farm-level strategies to grow young stock faster are discussed. The importance of improved maternal nutrition as a key driver for well grown young stock is covered. Better nutrition of ewes to improve placental development, together with better nutrition during late pregnancy increases lamb birthweight and improves lamb survival. Higher lamb birthweights mean better weaning weights, more prime lambs away off mum, better forward store lambs, and/or lambs finished off farm sooner = fewer drenches per lamb. Better, faster grown young stock will be one useful ‘tool in the toolkit’ to consider in our on-farm battle against worms. For more information about ruminant nutrition and worms, refer back to Episode 68. Subscribe so that you don't miss out on our next episode, number 70, all to do with nutrition, forage crops and internal parasites!