The effect of first season chemoprophylaxis in calves on second season pasture contamination and acquired resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal nematodes

Two groups of second grazing season cattle, which had been treated with an ivermectin-sustained-release bolus (ISRB) in their first grazing season, were monitored during consecutive years (1995 and 1996) on the same second grazing season pasture. In the preceding year (1994), this pasture had been grazed by yearlings that had not received chemoprophylaxis in their first grazing season. The objectives of the study were, firstly, to investigate whether the chemoprophylactic-treated yearlings were less resistant to gastrointestinal nematodes upon subsequent exposure, and hence excreted more strongyle eggs compared to the control yearlings; secondly, whether an increased susceptibility of the previously treated animals resulted in a yearly increase of the pasture infestation on the second grazing season pasture; and finally, whether this affected the second year weight gain of the animals. In 1996, the yearlings that had been chemoprophylactic-treated in 1995 excreted higher numbers of nematode eggs, compared to the previously ‘untreated' yearlings. In addition, the proportion of Cooperia larvae was markedly higher in the faecal cultures from the chemoprophylactic treated-animals, suggesting a negative effect of preventive treatment with an ISRB on the acquired resistance of the animals. However, there was no evidence that the slightly higher egg output in the previously treated yearlings had an effect on the larval contamination of the second grazing season pasture. A significant yearly decrease in the second season average daily weight gains was observed, but it could not be inferred from the results of the parasitological parameters that the differences in second year growth were caused by different levels of resilience between chemoprophylactic-treated and -untreated animals. As the study covered three consecutive second grazing seasons, an effect of differences between years (e.g. in weather conditions or grass growth) on the results cannot be excluded.