Control of helminth diseases on daily cattle farms in flanders: Results ofa questionnaire survey

In 1998 a questionnaire was sent to 2280 dairy cattle farmers in Flanders, Belgium, to investigate whether the pasture management included measures to control gastrointestinal nematodes, whether chemoprophylaxis was applied a nd whether chemoprophylaxis and grazing management were integrated, rather than superimposed. Information was also gathered on the control measures ag ainst lungworm and liver fluke. On 82% of the farms, the grazing management included preventive measures against gastrointestinal nematodes, such as r otational grazing (21.8%), grazing on aftermath (57.0%), or late turnout (2 6.1%). Nevertheless, the calves received preventive anthelmintic treatment on 69.9% of the farms. At least on 18.3% of the farms preventive pasture ma nagement was combined with intensive chemoprophylaxis, which may be 'overpr otective'. On the other hand, on 7.4% of the farms no protective measures a gainst gastrointestinal nematodes were taken. Only 15.1% of the farmers vac cinated their calves against Dictyocaulus. Cattle were treated against live r fluke on 12.1% of the farms.