Fewer parasites for deer grazing after cows and sheep

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-07-27 08:27

New Zealand

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Cross-grazing deer can reduce the amount of parasites infecting them, therefore reducing the amount of drench that farmers have to use on the animals, according to a new study. The researchers say that New Zealand deer farmers already use cross-grazing (different species grazing pastures in succession) to maintain the quality of their pasture. As well as the economic benefit of fewer parasites and less drench, the scientists say cross-grazing could help prevent parasites developing drench resistance as quickly.