What is the key purpose of deworming livestock?

Deworming livestock primarily aims to reduce parasite load and improve health, which is essential for maintaining the overall well-being of the animals. Parasites can significantly impact livestock by causing various health issues, including malnutrition, weakness, and even death. By effectively controlling and eliminating these parasites through deworming, livestock can absorb nutrients more efficiently from their feed, leading to better health outcomes and increased productivity.

While goals such as increasing feed intake and promoting growth rate can be indirectly achieved as a result of improved health from deworming, those are not the primary focus. Overall health enhancement, stemming from a reduced parasite burden, is crucial, as it lays the groundwork for these other benefits, making it the most critical reason for implementing a deworming program in livestock management.