The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2018 - Issue 59 | Page 56

56 PEST CONTROL
OCT/NOV 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
MODERATE-TO-HIGH SLUG PRESSURE
ANTICIPATED FOR THE SEASON AHEAD
INCREASING numbers of slugs
are being reported in various
parts of the UK, and this trend is
set to continue with agronomists
anticipating a moderate-to-high
slug pressure season.
Certis’ technical specialist,
Geoffrey Bastard, warns grow-
ers not to be complacent even
though little straw has been left
after harvest and dry conditions
have helped to keep slugs at
bay.
“We’ve seen slugs grazing on
stubble and OSR volunteers
following harvest, particularly in
places where there’s been signif-
icant rainfall, and where soils are
heavier,” he says.
Geoffrey advises growers to
adopt a risk-based IPM approach,
which includes a combination of
control methods to prepare for a
potential influx of the pests.
“Particular attention should be
paid to fields with historically high
slug pressure,” he says.
“Previous crop and soil type will
also have an impact, for example,
wheat after oilseed rape will be
particularly susceptible.”
He adds that slug pressure
should be frequently monitored
on a field-by-field basis. “Assess
the current in-field populations
and ensure soils are well consoli-
dated ahead of drilling.
“However, I’d be cautious of
cultivating too early, as working
dry and cracked soils could cause
more damage to the soil structure.
This can slow down germination
and negatively impact on the crop
successfully growing away from
the pest.”
Geoffrey also recommends
slug trapping to recognise when
slug pellets are required. “Mon-
itor populations by placing slug
traps with layers mash under-
neath,” he says.
“Put traps out in the evening to
be checked early the following
morning. If you see four or more
slugs, apply a ferric phosphate
slug pellet, such as Sluxx HP.”
He adds that using a high-qual-
ity, uniform, wet process ferric
phosphate pellet, will provide
good spreadability and durability
in the field.
“Ferric phosphate also comes
with the added benefit of having
no environmental restrictions, but
growers should still be mindful
of the specific application rates
of the product to ensure best
results,” says Geoffrey.
Sluxx HP should be applied at
a maximum dose rate of 7kg/ha.
In high pest-pressure situations,
up to four applications of Sluxx
HP can be made with a maximum
total dose of 28kg/ha/crop.
Lungworm threat extends late into grazing season
THE very dry weather and recent
heavy rain is likely to lead to late
outbreaks of lungworm disease
(husk) in grazing cattle, caused
by the Dictyocaulus viviparus
parasite. Boehringer Ingelheim is
urging cattle farmers to remain
vigilant for signs of the disease,
which can cause significant
production losses and increased
costs.
Heavy rain is very effective at
distributing infective larvae from
pats, but the pilobolus fungus
that grows on dung also plays an
important role in this; propelling
larvae up to three metres as it
expels its own spores.
Clinical signs from late-season
infections may not be observed
until cattle are housed, and com-
plicating matters further, cough-
ing can be confused with other
respiratory diseases, which can
occur shortly after housing.
Sudden outbreaks of lungworm
disease can be severe and, if
the early signs of infection are
not identified quickly, significant
production losses – of up to £145
per animal1 - could occur, in-
cluding death in the worst cases.
Lungworm should always be
considered as a potential cause of
coughing in cattle. Farmers should
not wait until the whole herd is
unwell but seek advice from their
vet early in the course of disease
to minimise long-term impact.
Other signs that can indicate
lungworm infection include rapid
loss of condition and sudden milk
drop in lactating animals. Dairy
cows will often spend less time
grazing, and more time resting.
Their water intake is also likely
to be reduced. Severely affected
cattle will typically stand with
head and neck extended in an ‘air
hunger’ position.
There is an increasing trend
for adult cattle, as well as young-
stock, to be affected by lungworm
disease. Immunity to lungworm is
short-lived, and if natural boosting
through low-level exposure to lar-
vae does not occur, animals may
be rendered susceptible to dis-
ease when the number of larvae
present on the pasture increases,
as may be the case this season.
However, even immune animals
can succumb to disease in the
face of high larval challenge.
If lungworm is diagnosed, cattle
should be treated immediate-
ly with a wormer that quickly
removes lungworm and prevents
re-infection, to allow lungs to re-
cover. It’s vital that the whole herd
is treated as some infected ani-
mals will not show obvious clinical
signs at the same time but will still
suffer performance losses. A vet
should assess severely affected
individuals, as they may need
additional treatment to treat pain,
inflammation and any secondary
infection.
Dairy and beef cattle can be
treated with Eprinex Pour On, an
eprinomectin pour-on wormer,
with the advantage of zero-day
milk withhold for dairy herds.
Eprinex removes lungworm and
a range of other parasites present
in cattle in the autumn, including
key gutworm species Ostergagia
ostertagi and Cooperia, and pre-
vents re-infection by lungworm
and Ostertagia for 28 days and
Cooperia for 21 days.