Beef cattle continue to increase
The number of beef cattle increased for the fourth year in a row in 2020, while the national dairy herd and sheep flock have both continued to fall in recent years, Stats NZ said.
Alpheus anti-parasitic capsules use a unique applicator to insert a slow release capsule into the cattle to provide coverage for 125 days – more than four times longer than other products on the NZ market.
Sirona Animal Health has developed the capsules with the assistance of Argenta Pharmaceuticals. Vet Claire Nicholson has spent the last two years overseeing the development and testing of the capsules.
The idea developed when Nicholson was a consultant to a number of companies involved in animal health.
"One issue that farmers constantly raised with me was the struggle to get good growth rates in cattle over the autumn," she explains.
"The products available in the NZ market only provided protection from infestation with parasites for a few days; new parasites ingested after that complete their lifecycle in the animals causing gut damage along the way. The next treatment is targeted to kill these new infestations when they have reached the adult stage thus preventing more contamination of pasture.
"Our solution is a product that kills all incoming larvae for 125 days, thus avoiding the establishment of new patent infestations and the consequent gut damage."
Nicholson says farmers also felt that parasite management was too time-consuming.
"I shared their view that there must be a better way that didn't involve having to round up the herd and bring them all in for dosing once a month. It needed to suit the NZ conditions and complement farm practices and lifestyles."
Stu Moore, manager of Gem Lake Station where tests were done last year, says he will switch to Alpheus Anti-Parasitic capsules.
Sixty cattle on the Otago property were part of the testing last year; 30 were given Alpheus capsules, 15 were drenched and 15 were injected. All the cattle were weighed and FEC tested every two weeks.
"The cattle with the capsules in them gained more weight," Moore says. "I wasn't surprised at the results; we've seen similar benefits treating sheep in this way. It's good that we now have something for cattle."
He says while some farmers may struggle with the cost, you've got to look at the advantages of not having to bring the cattle in every few weeks.
"Once the capsule is in, it's in. You don't have to re-drench or re-inject," Moore explains. "With the labour cost savings and lower stress it puts on the cattle, it's well worth it.
"It is more expensive than other parasite treatments," Nicholson concedes, "but this is more than made up for in the time saved from not having to treat stock every 28 days."
Alpheus anti-parasitic capsule and primer are designed to be used over the autumn when the larval flush on pasture is at its highest and the parasite challenge is at a maximum level.
"We believe gut damage at this time leads to more permanent effects which in turn leads to reduced production," she adds.
"Our testing, so far, has supported our aim that cattle treated with Alpheus antiparasitic capsules will gain weight, which in turn can lead to increased milk production and higher conception rates. This all equals increased profits."
The capsule is being sold as a vet only treatment, Nicholson says.
"We have had a great response from vets so far. They not only see the benefits of the capsules, but also how they can use the applicator to simultaneously treat with other controlled-release products – such as zinc
for FE and trace elements."
She says the company's philosophy is to try to make life easier for farmers and reduce stress on the animals
"As well, the Captec technology prevents regurgitation. We've had 100% retention in all trials to date. And the flat head design of applicator makes it easy and safer to administer," Nicholson says.
