The Less Glamorous Side of Spring on the Farm.

Meggan Urevig
Mar 3
3 min read

FINALLY. We've made it through all the false springs into warm weather...and then the unseen enemy comes in for an attack.

There’s a certain romance to spring on the farm. The calves hit the ground. The lambs start bouncing. The chickens lay like they’re trying to win a blue ribbon. The snow melts and the fields begin to breathe again. But as the mud thaws… so do the parasites lurking in our fields. And while no one is pinning spring deworming photos on Pinterest, it might be one of the most important jobs you do all year.

Why Spring Is Prime Time for Parasites

Winter slows many things down — including parasite cycles. But once the ground softens and temperatures rise, internal parasites wake up right along with your pasture.

Moist soil, warming temperatures, and fresh green growth create the perfect environment for parasite eggs and larvae to thrive. As your animals head back out to graze, they unknowingly ingest those larvae resting on grass blades.

It’s a quiet invasion--by the time you notice a problem, performance and health may already be slipping.

Why Deworming Matters More Than You Think

Internal parasites don’t just “steal a little nutrition.” They compete for feed, damage the digestive tract, reduce immune function, and rob animals of energy needed for growth, milk production, fertility, and overall resilience. They're a menace to all your hard work and care.

In young animals especially, parasite loads can:

Slow weight gain
Cause rough hair coats or wool break
Trigger scours or loose manure
Lead to bottle jaw (fluid swelling under the jaw in severe cases)
Increase susceptibility to other diseases

In cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, heavy parasite burdens can quietly chip away at your bottom line long before you see dramatic symptoms.

And here’s the hard truth: healthy-looking animals can still carry significant parasite loads.

Signs You May Have an Infestation

Keep your boots on and your eyes open this spring. Watch for:

Animals falling behind in growth compared to herd mates
Pale eyelids or gums (especially in small ruminants)
Persistent diarrhea
Pot-bellied appearance in young animals
Dull, patchy, or slow-shedding coats
Decreased milk production
General lethargy or poor thriftiness

If your pasture looks lush but your animals don’t — parasites could be part of the story.

Strategic Deworming: Not Just “Dose and Hope”

Modern parasite management isn’t about randomly rotating products anymore. It’s about strategic timing, correct dosing, and in some cases fecal testing to know what you’re dealing with.

If you're feeling more of the organic homestead type, you can use things like:

Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Added to feed, DE acts mechanically to damage the exoskeletons of parasites, drying them out.
Garlic and Herbs: Chopped garlic, onion, and wormwood are effective parasite repellents.
Pumpkin Seeds: Effective as a natural dewormer, especially when fed as a, drench, often reducing fecal egg counts.
Tannin-Rich Forage: Grazing plants like Sericea lespedeza, Birdsfoot trefoil, or Chicory helps reduce worm burdens in small ruminants.
Copper Boluses: Essential for goats, these improve immune response, making them better able to fight off parasites like the barber pole worm.
Biological Control: Using predatory fungi (e.g., Duddingtonia flagrans) that consume worm larvae in manure.

Spring is critical because:

You reduce the parasite load inside the animal.
You reduce the number of eggs being shed back onto pasture.
You give young and lactating animals a stronger start going into peak grazing season.

Under-dosing or using the wrong product can contribute to resistance — so weigh animals accurately and consult a knowledgeable source when choosing products.

Beyond Dewormer: Management Still Matters

Deworming is a tool — not the whole toolbox.

Good pasture rotation, avoiding overgrazing, separating age groups when possible, and maintaining strong nutrition all help animals better withstand parasite pressure.

Healthy soil and balanced mineral programs also support immune systems. A well-fed animal is a more resilient animal.

The Unpretty Work That Protects the Pretty Moments

No one takes family photos of deworming day. But those bouncing lambs, glossy calves, and productive hens you admire in June? They depend on the quiet, unglamorous decisions you make in March and April. As the mud thaws, so do the parasites.Stay ahead of them.

Because good farming isn’t just about what looks beautiful in spring — it’s about protecting what can’t be seen beneath the surface.