Bermudagrass management in the Southern Piedmont USA. V: Gastrointestinal parasite control in cattle

摘要: Parasite-free pastures would improve cattle health and performance, resulting in possible economic return to producers. Our objective was determine the effect of a single series anthelmintic treatment steers prior stocking on Coastal bermudagrass pastures, during five consecutive summers, parasite burden cattle. The site for this experiment had been conventionally cropped several decades, with no exposure cattle, be expected relatively free nematode larvae. experimental design randomized complete block (landscape features) split plot arrangement treatments where main plots were pasture fertilization (mineral, clover plus mineral, broiler litter) low high forage mass. Anthelmintic included pour-on ivermectin day -21, albendazole -7, injectable 48 h remaining drylot 48-h period being placed paddocks. All received only one any given year. Yearling Angus (Bos taurus) managed put-and-take grazing system three "tester" assigned each paddock "grazer" added or removed at 28-day intervals. From 1994 1998, grazed paddocks 140-day from mid May until early October Fecal samples worm egg counts obtained 0 intervals, thereafter. On all sampling days after 0, tester animals. Over 5-year period, mean eggs per gram feces (epg) gradually increased (following treatment) 2.2 (range 0.7 3.0) by end season (the last date) October. Although epg not zero, they below threshold levels that allow development In traditional management systems, graze parasite-contaminated pastures; therefore, parasites negatively impact growth productivity throughout entire period. Periodic simply give temporary reprieve those parasitic infections. Conceptually, using current system, it should maintain these parasite-free status indefinitely; however, drug resistance perspective, most applicable sod-based rotation systems two years before land is returned row-crops. By removing parasites, can grow without physiological constraints gastrointestinal place appetite, digestion, nutrient utilization, general well being.