Lungworm is a type of worm also known as “hoose” that affects the lungs of cattle.

It is a very serious disease that can result in serious illness or death of cattle if left untreated.

The periods of greatest risk for animals picking up the disease are late summer and autumn.

This year has been particularly bad for Lungworms, with the weather being warm, humid and wet, which creates ideal conditions for lungworms to develop and multiply rapidly. There has been an increase in reported cases of first calved heifers and autumn calves on their second year at grass.

Young stock at risk

The type of cattle greatest at risk for this disease is first season calves or weanlings at grass.

This is because these calves haven’t developed a resistance to the disease like older cattle potentially will have.

Animals exposed to lungworms usually develop a resistance which prevents re-infection of the disease.

But this might not always be the case – if any cattle fail to maintain immunity to the disease or if the pasture contains high levels of lungworms cattle might pick up the disease again.

Symptoms of Lungworm can include:

  • Coughing and shortness of breath after being moved or disturbed.
  • Open mouth breathing in severe cases with tongue out.

    Cattle not thriving and stunting of growth is a long-term symptom.

    Quarantine

    All incoming cattle should be quarantined and should be dosed to stop a potential outbreak of lungworm on the farm.

    A vaccination program should be put into place with your vet if there is a lungworm problem or if there was a previous history of lungworm on the farm.

    A vaccination/dose may not be necessary if there was no previous history of lungworm on the farm or if cattle is grazing fresh pasture, i.e. pasture that was recently reseeded or wasn’t grazed by cattle in previous years.

    It is essential to monitor all cattle over the grazing period and in early housing to prevent any illness or death occurring of cattle.

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