Preventive Health Programs for Cow-Calf and Stocker Operations

[...]a decrease in the number of muscle fibers due to fetal programming permanently reduces muscle mass and thus reduces animal performance. "Stocker calves, especially those on permanent pastures, are at high risk for internal parasites," says Thomas Craig, DVM, Ph.D., Texas A&M University emeritus. [...]it is essential to treat when they are turned out on pasture, and then repeat the treatment one to three months later, depending on the anthelmintic (wormer) used and the grazing season. Because these calves are at risk and pastures may be laden with resistant worms, it is advisable to have your veterinarian check fecal samples two to four weeks after treatment to aid in determining if the anthelmintic actually worked.