Endoparasite control practices on Saskatchewan dairy farms.

A questionnaire was administered to dairy producers in Saskatchewan in 2016 to determine basic pasture management practices, how producers use parasite control products, and attitudes towards the threat of endoparasites. All 161 dairy producers in Saskatchewan were invited to participate and the survey response rate was 39.8% (64/161). Most respondents (78.3%) were not concerned with endoparasites in their cattle or the threat of anthelmintic resistance. Yet 79.7% of producers reported using anthelmintics in all classes of cattle (lactating cows, dry cows, weaned heifers, and bred heifers). The most common reasons for using an anthelmintic product were as part of a routine management strategy and for the control of external parasites. The most common method to determine dosage was by visual estimation of the animal's weight. Together, these factors may increase the risk for development of anthelmintic resistance.