Parasite Control Strategies: Pasture Management

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is one of the major threats to the livestock population. GI parasites steal nutrients from their hosts, which can result in direct and indirect damage, and in severe cases death of the hosts. To combat infection by GI parasites, different deworming strategies are used which definitely decrease the worm load. In addition, appropriate pasture management can also effectively control exposure to and reinfection with parasites. Pasture efficiency depends on many factors, including quantity and quality of forages, grazing, natural conditions and grazing types. Effective pasture management systems help to optimize not only animal productivity but also the containment of parasitism. This chapter highlights pasture management, its types and how different management strategies play a role in minimizing the magnitude of parasitism in field conditions. It also covers the suitability of various strategies in different geoclimatic zones and seasonal conditions, which will help the farming community to implement appropriate pasture management strategies according to their needs and climatic conditions.