Impact of a sustained-release ivermectin bolus on weight gain in breeding age Holstein heifers under commercial pasture conditions in southern Québec.

This field trial was designed to test the effect of treatment with a sustained-release ivermectin bolus on average daily and total weight gain in breeding age Holstein heifers under commercial pasture conditions in southern Quebec. One hundred and twelve heifers from 12 herds were randomly assigned at turnout either to treatment with a commercially-available ivermectin bolus or to remain as untreated controls. Ninety-six heifers, 49 treated animals and 47 controls, completed the trial. Animals were weighed at turnout, midseason, and at the end of the grazing season. Fecal samples were collected at each of these times and nematode eggs counted. Nematode egg excretion was relatively low throughout the pasture season, which was abnormally warm and dry until midsummer. Over the entire pasture season, average daily weight gain was higher in treated than in control animals (difference = 0.08 kg/day, P = 0.010). Total weight gain was also higher in treated animals than in control animals (difference = 12.82 kg, P = 0.013). The results of this study suggest that preventive treatment of breeding age, grazing dairy heifers with a sustained-release ivermectin bolus provides a significant weight gain advantage, in situations with moderate utilization of moderately contaminated pastures.     

Patterns of parasitic nematode infection and immunity in dairy heifers treated with ivermectin in a sustained-release bolus formulation either at turnout or in the middle of the grazing season

Twenty-eight Holstein-Friesian heifers, born the previous year and weighing between 130 and 310 kg, were allocated to one of two treatment groups by restricted randomisation, based on their initial weight. The heifers in group 1 were each treated with ivermectin in a sustained-release bolus formulation at turnout in April, and those in group 2 were each given an ivermectin bolus on July 10, 84 days after turnout. On that day the mean geometric worm egg counts of groups 1 and 2 were 0.4/g and 38.8/g, respectively, and they both had a mean plasma pepsinogen concentration of 0.59 iu/litre; in group 1, two of 14 faecal samples were positive for Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae, and in group 2 all 13 samples were positive; in group 1 eight calves were positive and three inconclusive for the presence of antibodies to D viviparus, and in group 2 the corresponding figures were 10 positive and two inconclusive; the mean liveweights of groups 1 and 2 were 274.4 kg and 262.8 kg, respectively. By December 4,231 days after turnout, the corresponding results were: mean geometric worm egg counts of 2.2/g and 0.5/g; one of 13 and none of 14 faecal samples positive for D viviparus larvae; 12 positive and two inconclusive and none positive and 10 inconclusive for the presence of antibodies to D viviparus; 214 days after turnout their mean liveweights were 361.1 kg and 358.3 kg. Although the patterns of parasitic nematode infection were different in the two groups during the grazing season, by the time they were housed both groups had achieved similar liveweights and showed evidence of an immune response to both D viviparus and gastrointestinal nematodes.     

Some observations on the use of the morantel sustained-release bolus in first season-grazing calves on a Belgian dairy cattle farm

The efficacy of the morantel sustained-release bolus (MSRB) in controlling gastrointestinal parasites in first-season grazing calves was evaluated on a dairy cattle farm in Belgium. The calves grazed a pasture which had been used by bolus-treated animals in the three previous years. The effect of bolus administration was determined with respect to live weight gain, faecal egg shedding, herbage larval counts, serum pepsinogen levels and ELISA antibody titres. In spite of an incomplete reduction of faecal egg shedding during the first months of the grazing season, bolus administration resulted in the prevention of parasitic gastro-enteritis in the calves. A weight gain advantage of 35,2 kg of the bolus-treated animals over the controls was noted already at two months after turnout. This weight gain advantage was maintained until housing. The usefulness of serum pepsinogen values and ELISA antibody titres as parameters in prevention experiments is stressed. Both serological parameters gave more information concerning infection level than did the faecal egg output and the herbage larval counts.     

Effect of Sustained-Release Ivermectin on Performance of Grazing Cattle in the Intermountain West

Five studies (trials I to V) were conducted on ranches located in the intermountain west to determine the effect of sustained-release parasite control (Ivomec SR Bolus®, Merial Limited, Rahway, NJ) on cattle performance and fecal nematode egg counts. Cattle in trials I to IV grazed irrigated meadows for 156 d (n=250 yearling heifers), 117 d (n=250 yearling steers), 85 d (n=150 yearling heifers), and 85 d (n=60 calves), respectively. In trial V, yearling steers (n=200) grazed dry high-desert range for 190 d. Weights and fecal samples were taken initially and at the end of each trial. Cattle were paired by weight and randomly assigned to treatment 1) Control: no deworming for the grazing period or 2) SRI: sustained-release ivermectin. For trials I to V, total gain difference (SRI minus Control) and ADG difference were 10.0 kg and 0.064 kg/d (P<0.001), 13.9 kg and 0.119 kg/d (P<0.001), 6.9 kg and 0.082 kg/d (P<0.01), 8.0 kg and 0.095 kg/d (P=0.05), and −0.48 kg and −0.003 kg/d (P=0.86), respectively. For trials I to V, mean initial, final Control, and final SRI fecal egg counts in eggs per gram were 0.4, 15.2, and 0.1; 6.0, 8.3, and 0.0; 75.8, 57.0, and 16.6; 76.0, 39.1, and 0.0; and 1.8, 2.0, and 0.0; respectively. Treatment of cattle grazing irrigated meadows with sustained-release ivermectin resulted in improved weight gain and fecal egg counts that were diminished to near zero. No differences (P>0.05) in weight gains were detected for cattle administered sustained-release ivermectin that grazed dry high desert range.     

Effect of anthelmintic treatment of second-year cattle on growth performance during winter housing and first lactation yield

The effect of nematode infections on growth performance during winter housing and on first lactation yield was investigated in heifers on 69 farms. Half of each herd was treated with albendazole after housing, which resulted in significantly reduced egg output, antibody titres against Ostertagia and Cooperia, and pepsinogen values compared with the untreated control groups. Albendazole-treated groups gained on average 0.007 cm day-1 heart girth (i.e. 0.05 kg day-1) more than control groups during the housing period (P less than or equal to 0.10), varying from -0.060 to +0.137 cm day-1 among herds. Albendazole-treated heifers produced 195.4 kg milk per 305-day lactation more than untreated heifers (P less than 0.01). Per herd, the mean milk yield response to treatment was +313.8 kg milk (P less than 0.01), varying from -876 to +1950 kg. Milk production of untreated heifers increased by 10.5 kg milk kg-1 extra body weight, adjusted for age, measured after the second grazing season (P less than 0.05). This suggests that nematode infections occurring in the first 2 years of life negatively influence milk production by reducing weight gains and hence body weight at calving.     

Evaluation of gastro-intestinal nematode parasite control strategies for first-season grazing cattle in Sweden

A three-year grazing experiment (1998-2000) was conducted with first-season grazing cattle (FSGC) on improved pastures in central-eastern Sweden. Comparison was made between five groups with 10 calves in each group where four of these were set stocked and either (1) untreated, (2) ivermectin bolus treated, (3) subjected to biological control with the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans, or (4) treated with a copper wire particle bolus. The fifth treatment was an evasive grazing strategy, whereby untreated calves were turned out onto pasture used by older cattle the previous year and then these calves were moved to silage aftermath in mid-July. To introduce low-levels of parasite infection to the experiment, each animal received a 'priming dose' of approximately 5,000 Ostertagia ostertagi and 5,000 Cooperia oncophora infective third stage larvae immediately prior to the start of the first grazing year of the trial.Results showed that efficient and sustainable parasite control of FSGC was possible to achieve without the use of anthelmintics by using turnout pastures that the previous year had been grazed by older cattle, in combination with a mid-July move to aftermath leys. Biological control also proved beneficial but the efficacy was impaired if high faecal egg counts coincided with rapid dung pat degradation due to heavy rainfall. No indication of parasite control was observed with the copper wire particle bolus. It was also demonstrated that the impact of gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism varied between years and that the level of overwintering contamination is important but likewise, is unpredictable. Although faecal egg counts in 1999 were low, due both to a delayed turnout and drought for the major part of the grazing season, deposited eggs successfully developed to infective larvae and overwintered in large numbers. The population of overwintered infective larvae at the time of turnout in early May played an important role in the course of infection in 2000 and resulted in an average 65 kg advantage of the ivermectin treated calves compared with the untreated calves.Thus, this three-year grazing experiment has emphasised the importance of subclinical gastrointestinal nematode infections in FSGC in Sweden. In addition, the study has shown that adequate parasite control may be achievable without the use of anthelmintics.     

Assessment of the effect of gastrointestinal nematode infestation on weight gain in grazing beef cattle

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of subclinical, naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infestation on weight gain in yearling cattle kept on pasture. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 799 Bos taurus yearlings kept on pasture with 2,805 herd mates in eastern and central South Dakota. PROCEDURE: 11 trials were initiated at 9 sites from 1999 through 2001. For each trial, approximately 10% of cattle in each site's pasture group were identified, weighed, and administered a bolus of ivermectin (sustained-release formulation) prior to turnout. A similar subgroup of nontreated control cattle was identified and weighed prior to turnout. For each trial, treated and control groups remained with the larger pasture group throughout the entire grazing season. At the end of the grazing season, weight measurements and fecal samples were obtained from all treated and control cattle; average daily grazing gain was calculated and compared between these 2 groups. RESULTS: Treatment of grazing cattle with ivermectin increased average daily gain by 0.0459 +/- 0.01 kg/head/d (mean +/- SEM; 0.1 +/- 0.02 lb/head/d), compared with that achieved in control cattle. Control cattle had significantly greater fecal egg counts at grazing season end than treated cattle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with anthelmintic-treated cattle, yearling cattle with naturally occurring gastrointestinal nematode infestations kept on pasture in the US Northern Plains had a decreased average daily gain equivalent to 6.6 kg (14.5 lb) less gain in a 143-day grazing season. Strategies for control of nematode populations in pastures should be considered to ameliorate this production loss.     

Sub-clinical parasitism in spring-born, beef suckler calves: epidemiology and impact on growth performance during the first grazing season

Sub-clinical parasitism in spring-born single suckled beef calves was investigated from the middle of their first grazing season until weaning or housing later the same year. The study was conducted on four beef suckler herds in southern England over a 3-year period and involved a total of 334 spring-born beef suckler calves and their dams. The animals were grazed extensively on pastures naturally infected with nematode larvae. At the start of each period of observation, faecal samples were taken from calves and cows and subjected to routine worm egg counts; calves were re-sampled at the end of the grazing season.In July in each year and at each location the calves were ranked by initial weight within sex, paired according to rank and randomly allocated to either an untreated control group or a group in which the calves were each treated with an ivermectin sustained-release (SR) bolus. The calves in both trial groups, and their dams, were grazed together until weaning or housing. The calves were weighed at the initial allocation and at the end of the study. The adult cows were not treated with any anthelmintic during the study.The faecal nematode egg counts (FECs) conducted in July showed that the suckler cows were excreting worm eggs at low concentrations: range 0-100 eggs per gram (epg), with one individual count of 500epg, 88% of the cows sampled had counts of <50epg. Similarly, the counts from the calf samples were fairly low in July: range 0-250epg, 73% of the calves sampled had counts of <50epg. By the end of the grazing season, the faecal samples from the untreated control calves showed higher values: range 0-650epg, with only 58% having an epg of <50.The average rate of daily liveweight gain in the untreated heifer calves was 0.79kg per day, the corresponding figure for the heifer calves treated with the ivermectin SR bolus in mid-summer was 0.88kg per day; the difference of 90g per day was significantly different (P=0.0118). The average rate of daily liveweight gain in the untreated bull calves was 0.91kg per day, the corresponding figure for the bull calves treated with the ivermectin SR bolus in mid-summer was 1.01kg per day; the difference was significantly different (P=0.0169).     

Efficacy of the morantel sustained-release bolus in grazing cattle in North America

The efficacy of using a bolus containing morantel in a sustained-release preparation for controlling naturally acquired gastrointestinal parasitic infections in weaned calves and yearling cattle was investigated during the 1982 grazing season at selected sites in the United States and Canada. According to a common trial design under various climatic and management conditions, 10 field trials were conducted with the bolus. At the time of spring turnout, a bolus was administered to each calf or yearling in the treated group. Then, treated and control cattle grazed separate but equal areas of divided pasture(s). The epidemiologic pattern of parasitic gastroenteritis in control animals and the effect of treatment on this pattern was determined in each trial. Safety and practicality of use of the bolus also were established. When compared with untreated cattle (control), those given the bolus deposited significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer worm eggs (89% reduction) during the first 90 days of the grazing season, as well as significantly fewer (P less than 0.05) worm eggs (84% reduction) during the entire grazing season. Consequently, during the second half of the grazing season, larval populations on treated pastures remained significantly (P less than 0.05) lower (66% reduction), compared with numbers of larvae found on control pastures. For pastures grazed by treated and control cattle at trial initiation, mean worm counts recovered from tracer calves were equal, indicating comparable pasture contamination at the beginning of the grazing season.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A field study on the efficacy of doramectin against strongyles and its egg reappearance period in horses

The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy and the so-called "egg reappearance period" (ERP) of doramectin in horses naturally infected with strongyles during a period of 34 weeks. A group of yearlings of 10 animals was treated intramuscularly with doramectin at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight (BW) at the begin of the grazing season. To obtain comparable data, another group of yearlings (n = 10) was treated orally with ivermectin at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg BW. Individual faecal samples were examined for strongyle egg counts per gram of faeces (EPG) in two-week intervals. Twelve weeks later, a second treatment was given in both groups with the respective anthelmintic followed by a third treatment when the group mean egg count reached > or = 200 EPG. The efficacy of doramectin was > or = 96 % and that of ivermectin 100%, based on the mean egg counts two weeks post treatments (wpt). The highest and the lowest extensity of the efficacy (average values) for doramectin were 90% and 41% two and ten wpt, respectively, whereas these values for ivermectin differed from 100% (two wpt) to 24.3% (eight wpt). The ERP was found to be 10 and 8 weeks for doramectin and ivermectin, respectively.     

The impact of internal parasites on the productivity of young cattle organically reared on semi-natural pastures in Sweden

A grazing experiment with young cattle was conducted over two consecutive (1997, 1998) grazing seasons on semi-natural pasturelands in central-eastern Sweden. Comparisons were made between groups of animals that were either untreated and set-stocked, ivermectin bolus treated and set-stocked or untreated but moved in mid-summer (mid-July) to ungrazed pasture. The whole experimental area had remained virtually free of cattle during the previous two seasons and the cattle had been raised indoors since birth. To introduce low-levels of parasite infection into the experimental system, each animal received a ‘priming dose’ of approximately 10,000 infective trichostrongylid larvae at the time of turnout for both years. Results of the first year study showed that the level of parasitism was so low that it failed to induce any productivity losses in both groups of untreated cattle, which grew as well as those given boluses at turnout. In contrast, in 1998 both groups of untreated cattle suffered varying degrees of sub-clinical and clinical parasitism to result in an average of 30 kg liveweight depression, compared with the bolus treated cattle, at the end of the season. The only major departure between the two years was that in the latter, the cattle in the untreated groups were exposed to infective larval pickup, which had overwintered on pasture. Cattle in the move treatment grazed in the same sequence on pastures used by similar classes of animals during the previous year. That is, their pastures at turnout had not been grazed since mid-summer of the previous year. Clearly this early season (1997) grazing by young cattle resulted in sufficient overwintered larvae at the start of the following year (1998) to cause productivity losses of the same magnitude as those recorded for young cattle grazing on pastures contaminated for the entire grazing season of the previous year. This was confirmed by tracer tests that were carried out on all treatments, at the time of turnout and the mid-summer move in 1999. These results have major significance to organic cattle producers in Sweden who have a much higher tendency to practice a variety of grazing management techniques aimed at controlling nematode parasite infections in young cattle, than their conventional farming colleagues. It has been identified that one of these strategies is to simply use summer/autumn saved pastures for young stock at turnout, which if grazed by young stock prior to this, could prove to be counter-productive.     

Efficacy of a morantel sustained-release bolus for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in Florida dairy heifers

The effectiveness of a morantel sustained-release bolus (MSRB) in controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections was determined in 70 Holstein heifer calves with no prior grazing experience. Calves were allotted to 2 treatment groups and were maintained in Florida during the grazing season on divided pastures of equal area. One MSRB was administered to each calf in 1 group at the time of turnout onto spring pasture, whereas calves in the other group remained as nonmedicated controls. By the end of the grazing season, treatment resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) lower worm burdens and significantly improved weight gains. The MSRB-treated calves were able to reach breeding weight 2 to 4 weeks earlier than did nonmedicated calves.     

Evaluation of a strategic deworming program in dairy heifers in Quebec based on the use of moxidectin, an endectocide with a long persistency

Two different deworming strategies based on the use of moxidectin, a broad spectrum endectocide with persistency against Ostertagia ostertagi, were evaluated in grazing dairy heifers. Eighty-four heifers unexposed to parasitic infection were randomly allocated to 3 different groups: untreated (Group 1), treated at 3 and 10 weeks after turnout with 0.5 mg/kg/body weight (BW) of topical moxidectin (Group 2), or treated at turnout and 10 weeks later with 0.5 mg/kg/BW of topical moxidectin (Group 3). The heifers were turned out on June 6 (Day 0) to a naturally contaminated pasture divided into 3 sections by an electrical fence. Each group of heifers was put on a different section of pasture. The trial ended when they were housed on October 29 (Day 143). The results of this experiment confirmed the beneficial effect of 2 strategic treatments with moxidectin pour-on under field conditions in Quebec. The parasitological parameters showed a statistical difference in terms of mean fecal egg counts between treated and control groups (ANOVA, P < or = 0.006). After turnout, pasture larval counts were consistently higher for Group 1 compared with counts for Group 2 or 3. All heifer groups gained weight during the trial period, but the weight gain profile of both treated groups was significantly higher than that of the untreated controls (ANOVA, P < 0.03). During the trial period, Group 2 and Group 3 gained 77.7 kg BW and 73.2 kg BW, respectively, while Group 1 gained only 57.9 kg BW, despite the fact that heifers of Group 1 received a greater quantity of supplementary feed while on pasture.     

Excretion of Eimeria alabamensis oocysts in grazing calves and young stock

The aims of the present study were to investigate the excretion of Eimeria alabamensis oocysts by young cattle during their first grazing season and during the first 16 days of their second grazing period. In trial 1, nine first-season grazing heifers were studied and found to have become infected with E. alabamensis shortly after turnout. The next grazing period they were turned out on to a permanent pasture together with two first-season grazing calves. Faecal samples were collected before turnout and then daily from day 3 to day 16. The second-season grazing heifers excreted insignificant numbers of E. alabamensis oocysts, whereas one of the two first-season grazing calves excreted up to 703,000 oocysts/g of faeces (OPG), indicating that the pasture was contaminated. In trial 2, faecal samples were collected from 12 calves before their first turnout in May, daily from day 2 to day 20 after turnout and then once a week until the end of September. The calves grazed pastures used in previous years by first-season grazing calves. Nine of the calves developed clinical E. alabamensis coccidiosis 4-7 days after turnout and excreted more than 950,000 OPG on days 9-10. By day 17 the oocyst excretion had decreased below 900 OPG and remained low throughout the rest of the grazing season. The results of the two studies indicate that reinfections with E. alabamensis are of little clinical importance in calves grazing contaminated pastures, and that young stock infected with E. alabamensis during their first grazing season may be used to cleanse contaminated pastures without risk of developing clinical coccidiosis.     

A single pasture limited treatment approach to estimate production loss from gastrointestinal nematodes in grazing stocker cattle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a single pasture, limited treatment methodology to assess the impact of gastrointestinal nematodes on weight gain in grazing cattle. From a group of 450 British crossbred, yearling spayed heifers, 60 animals were randomly selected (prospective randomization) prior to placement on summer pasture. Each of these 60 animals was weighed, a fecal sample obtained for nematode egg count and a uniquely numbered ear tag applied. A randomly assigned group of 30 received treatment with one ivermectin sustained release bolus, while the remaining 30 served as non-treated controls. The treatment and control groups rejoined the remaining non-treated 390 animals, and were grazed as a single group for 165 days. At grazing conclusion, treatment and control cattle were individually weighed, and fecal samples obtained for nematode egg counts. Treatment was associated with a 0.064 kg per grazing day gain increase, or a 10 kg increase over the grazing season (P = 0.02). Nematode egg counts at grazing initiation were not different between treatment and control (P = 0.30), though egg counts in treated cattle at study end were lower than control (P < 0.0001). Results of this study support the use of a single pasture limited treatment approach for measuring the effect that internal nematodes have on weight gain in grazing cattle under commercial range conditions.     

A fenbendazole oral drench in addition to an ivermectin pour-on reduces parasite burden and improves feedlot and carcass performance of finishing heifers compared with endectocides alone

Two studies utilizing 1,862 yearling heifers were conducted to determine the effects of a fenbendazole oral drench in addition to an ivermectin pour-on (SG+IVPO), compared with an ivermectin pour-on (IVPO) or a doramectin injectable (DMX) alone, on parasite burden, feedlot performance, and carcass merit of feedlot cattle. In the first study, heifers receiving the SG+IVPO had fewer (P = 0.02) cattle retreated for disease and 73% fewer (P = 0.06) worm eggs per fecal sample 98 d after treatment than heifers treated with IVPO. Heifers treated with SG+IVPO consumed more DM, had greater ADG, were heavier at slaughter, and had heavier carcasses than IVPO-treated heifers (P < 0.05). Heifers treated with SG+IVPO also had more (P = 0.07) carcasses grading USDA Prime or Choice than IVPO-treated heifers. In the second study, heifers treated with SG+IVPO had fewer (P < 0.01) worm eggs per fecal sample 35 d after treatment and had fewer numbers of adult and larval Cooperia and Trichostrongylus spp. in the small intestine at slaughter (P < 0.10) compared with heifers treated with DMX. Heifers treated with SG+IVPO consumed more DM, were heavier at slaughter, and had heavier carcasses than DMX-treated heifers (P < 0.01). The SG+IVPO-treated heifers also had greater ADG (P < 0.10). The broad-spectrum effectiveness of a combination of a fenbendazole oral drench and an ivermectin pour-on reduced parasite burden and increased feed intake, ADG, and carcass weight in feedlot heifers compared with treatment with an endectocide alone.     

Effect of ivermectin delivered from a sustained-release bolus on the productivity of beef cattle in Oregon

The effect of ivermectin delivered from a sustained-release bolus (I-SRB) on the weight gain of beef cattle through a grazing season was evaluated using 20 yearling beef steer calves randomly divided into two groups of ten animals each. Calves in the control group each received a placebo bolus, while those in the treatment group each received an I-SRB designed to release 12 mg ivermectin day-1 for approximately 90 days. All animals were weighted and samples of feces were collected from the rectum at monthly intervals, beginning on Day 0, until trial termination (Day 148). Pasture larval counts were also conducted on herbage collected on each sampling date. On Day 119, two control and two treated calves were removed from pasture, housed in isolation for 3 weeks, then necropsied for recovery of gastrointestinal nematodes. Three sets of parasite-naive tracer calves were utilized to evaluate the initial, interim and final levels of pasture contamination by nematode larvae. A fourth set was used to evaluate the level of pasture contamination the following spring. The use of the I-SRB resulted in a greater than 99% reduction in fecal egg counts of trichostrongyles and numbers of gastrointestinal nematodes in the treated principals, as well as an average daily gain advantage of 0.114 kg over the 148 day period. A 67-98% reduction in pasture larval nematode contamination occurred on pastures grazed by the treated animals, as indicated by the parasite burden in tracer calves and pasture larval counts. The treatment effect was eventually lost by the following spring since tracer calves on the treated pasture had only 33% fewer nematodes than those on the control pasture.     

A clinical trial to evaluate the effects of flumethrin or ivermectin treatment on hemoparasites, gastrointestinal parasites, conception and daily weight gain in a dairy farm in Japan

A clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of flumethrin and ivermectin treatments of grazing heifers at one farm in central Japan. 64 heifers were randomly allocated into two groups. Flumethrin (1 mg/kg pour on) was applied approximately once every 3 weeks to heifers in one group and heifers in the second group were injected approximately once every month with ivermectin (200 microg/kg; id). Between groups, no significant differences were detected in the proportions of animals that showed parasitemia of Theileria sergenti and conception risks. Significantly lower average log-transformed nematode-egg counts and higher average daily weight gain were observed in the ivermectin-treated group. Animals with higher body weight at the start of grazing and lower log-transformed total nematode-egg and coccidia-oocyst counts had higher odds of conceiving. Animals with ivermectin treatment, lower body weight at the start of grazing and lower log-transformed coccidia-oocyst count had higher daily weight gain. Ivermectin may be more useful in this farm because of the higher productivity for cattle and lower cost for its usage.     

Autumn acquisition of nematodes by calves given a morantel sustained-release bolus the preceding spring

Reinfection with nematodes late in the grazing season was assessed in calves treated the preceding spring with a morantel sustained-release bolus (MSRB). During an initial 155-day grazing period, MSRB-treated calves (n = 15) grazed a pasture used the preceding year for identically treated calves (MSRB pasture). Control calves (n = 15) were not given anthelmintic treatment in the spring and grazed heavily contaminated herbage for the initial 155-day period (control pasture). At the end of the initial grazing period, 3 calves from each group were killed for parasite recovery and counting, with control calves found to harbor 9.2 times more nematodes, compared with the MSRB-treated calves. Nematode counts from tracers killed periodically during the initial grazing period were of similar proportions, reflecting the much greater nematode exposure experienced by the control calves, compared with the MSRB-treated calves. At the end of the initial grazing period, 10 calves (5/group) were placed on a common, contaminated pasture after all were treated twice with fenbendazole (10 mg/kg of body weight, 7 days apart) while on concrete. The second grazing period was for 29 days, followed by a 3-day confinement on concrete. Then, the calves were killed and necropsied. During the 29-day grazing period, the MSRB-treated calves maintained their weight advantage over the control calves, and significant differences in nematode egg counts were not found between the 2 groups of calves. At necropsy, the MSRB-treated calves harbored 27.9% fewer nematodes than did the controls, indicating that prior therapeutic and prophylactic anthelmintic activities of the MSRB did not predispose the animals to enhanced acquisition of nematodes after MSRB protection.     

Effects of treatments with endectocide on the weight gain of grazing cattle in a warm temperate climate

Five groups of 20 weaned beef calves were injected subcutaneously with either an ivermectin, a doramectin, an abamectin long-acting formulation, an ivermectin long-acting formulation or a saline control, at turnout and 60 and 120 days later. The animals grazed the same pasture and were sampled and weighed at turnout and 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days later. At turnout the mean bodyweights of all the groups were similar and faecal culture showed that they had a mixed strongyle infection of Cooperia, Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus species. After 180 days, the mean bodyweight gains of each group were respectively 62.1 kg, 102.2 kg, 106.4 kg, 107.3 kg and 110.1 kg for the control, ivermectin, doramectin, ivermectin long-acting and abamectin long-acting groups. All the products significantly improved the weight gains of the cattle, and significantly reduced their faecal egg counts.