Control of Ostertagia ostertagi infections in Australia

The control of Ostertagia ostertagi infections in Australia is aimed specifically at young cattle in their first and second year of grazing after weaning. Mature breeding stock are not routinely treated. The recommended strategy is preventive, using an integrated approach of timed anthelmintic treatments in relation to the epidemiology of ostertagiasis in different environments. Best results are obtained when treatments, given at weaning and 6 months later, are combined with a move to 'safe' pastures which have not been grazed by cattle for the previous 6 months. Good results are also obtained in the winter rainfall regions when set-stocked cattle are treated before and during autumn to prevent contamination of pastures at this time. More complicated grazing management, involving the spelling of pastures during autumn and winter, combined with anthelmintic treatments, is needed in some summer rainfall regions where weather conditions are especially favourable for the development and survival of the free-living stages of O. ostertagi.