Skip to content
A Smarter Approach to Parasite Management for Organic Farmers
Dr. Sarah EssentialsShare
Maintaining a healthy, parasite-resilient herd without harsh chemicals is one of the defining challenges of organic livestock farming. The good news: nature has given us a complete toolkit. Holistic parasite management works by combining smart pasture practices, nutritional support, and targeted botanical remedies — addressing the problem at every level rather than reaching for a chemical fix after the fact.
Here’s how Dr. Sarah approaches it.
Watch Dr. Sarah’s full parasite management video →
Start With the Pasture
Pasture management is the foundation of any effective parasite control program. Most parasite larvae live in the soil and at the base of grass, which means how you manage your land directly determines how much exposure your animals get.
Rotate regularly. Moving cattle to fresh grazing areas on a consistent schedule interrupts the parasite larvae cycle. Larvae need a host to complete their lifecycle. A rested pasture without animals is a hostile environment for them. After moving cattle off a paddock, dragging the manure piles during dry, hot weather exposes larvae to UV rays and heat, both of which are lethal to them. Running chickens through afterward accomplishes the same thing naturally.
Rest pastures 30–60 days. This window is long enough for most parasite larvae to die off without a host. Avoid overgrazing at all costs! Overgrazing causes animals to graze close to the soil surface which is where larval concentrations are highest.
Diversify your forages. Chicory and birdsfoot trefoil are both worth seeding into your pasture mix. These forages have a long traditional history of use in organic livestock systems, and in Dr. Sarah’s experience, herds with access to diverse forages tend to carry lighter parasite burdens. Select species suited to your climate, soil type, and the animals you’re managing.
Consider mixed-species grazing. Grazing cattle alongside horses or other species can disrupt parasite life cycles effectively. Most parasites are host-specific, so moving a different species through a paddock doesn’t sustain the cycle.
Proactive Internal Support
Good pasture management handles the environmental side. On the internal side, consistent gut health and immune support gives your herd a stronger foundation to handle the parasite exposure that’s a normal part of grazing life.
Clean Start is the product Dr. Sarah recommends as an everyday monthly foundation — not because every herd has an active problem, but because a resilient digestive system is part of what keeps a healthy herd healthy. Once a month, worked into your regular feeding routine.
Know What You’re Dealing With
One of the most useful things any livestock farmer can do is conduct regular pooled fecal testing. Collect samples from 20–30 manure piles across your herd, combine them into a single pooled sample, and send it to a veterinary lab. You’ll get a clear picture of what parasite types are present and what the load looks like at the herd level. This means when you do take action, you know it’s warranted and you know what parasites you’re targeting.
This is especially important before reaching for any stronger herbal support. Targeted intervention starts with knowing what you’re actually dealing with.
When More Support Is Needed
For herds where fecal testing or visible signs confirm a real parasite burden, Dr. Sarah uses more targeted botanical formulas (Super Eliminate, Cocci-Blast, and S&G Pills among them) depending on what the situation calls for. These are not universal recommendations. The right protocol depends on your herd’s specific needs, history, and what testing shows.
If you’re dealing with a significant parasite situation or aren’t sure where to start, the most straightforward path is a direct conversation.
Holistic parasite management isn’t a single product or a single intervention. It’s a system. The farms that do it well are the ones that work every layer of it together. Start with the land. Support the animal. Know what you’re dealing with before you respond.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a licensed veterinarian regarding the health of your animals.