Stocker Cattle Parasite Survey 1989 1990

Author : S. E. Marley
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (79 download)

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Download or read book Parasitism of Missouri Stocker Cattle and Stragies for Maximum Economic Benefit written by S. E. Marley and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cattle producers want efective animal health and production recommendations that will increase the quality and quantity of their beef. Cattle production must be regarded as an integrated program involving animal production systems, pasture management, and parasite and disease control programs. The focus of this research was internal and external parasistisms of Missouri cattle, with emphasis on strategies to maximize economic benefits for the producer. A statewide survey was distributed to obtain information on the producer rationale in relation to parasite control. Results of the two-year study (1990 and 1991) revealed that producers are knowledgeable about the effects that parasites may have on cattle production, and are interested in preventing these problems. The primary factor involved with their decision with repect to treating for parasites was habit. That is, producers treated every year on a routine basis. The seasonal abundance and relationships of face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer, and horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.) on Hereford cattle were investigated during 1990 and 1991. The results suggested that face flies and horn flies act independently of each other on individual cows, and that selectivity of "resistant" or "susceptible" cattle to these fly species probaly depends on a mosaic or factors. The efficacy of an ivermectin pour-on formulation on field horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.), on cattle, and effects of ivermectin residuum in cattle feces on laboratory reared house flies was studied during 1991 and 1992. The ivermectin pour-on provided 27 days of control of the horn fly on cattle. Ivermectin residuum was present in the feces of cattle for 12 days post-treatment, as was determined by decreased adult house fly development (via developmental bioassay procedures). The prevalence of cattle grubs, Hypoderma lineatum (Villers), and H. bovis (Linnaeus), in Missouri, and the efficacy of abamectin against cattle grubs in stocker cattle was investigated. Stocker cattle at mid-Missouri sale barns were examined from January through March during 1990 and 1991, and less than one per cent of the cattle inspected were positive for grub infections. Abamectin (one subcutaneous injection) was highly efficacious against the second and third stages of cattle grubs. Cattle treated one time with abamectin had fewer live grubs when compared to non-treated control cattle. The performance, parasitism, and economics of stocker cattle on continuous and intensive rotational grazing systems using ivermectin based deworming programs were studied during 1990. Cattle were allocated to four groups involving a grazing management system and a deworming regime using ivermectin: 1) continuous grazing and deworming every five weeks, 2) continuous grazing and deworming in May and August, 3) rotational grazing and deworming every five weeks, and 4) rotational grazing and deworming in May and August. Animals tendend to gain more on a individual animal basis under continuous grazing systems, but more beef was produced per hectare under rotational grazing systems (because of the greater stocking rate associated with rotational grazing management). There were no differences in average daily gain (ADG) detected between deworming every five weeks, or deworming in May and August. Parasite (gastrointestinal nematodes, Ostertagia spp. and Cooperia spp.) burdens, fecal egg counts and adult worm counts, were smaller for cattle grazing with cattle that were dewormed every five weeks. The economic paybacks per hectare were greatest with rotational grazing systems in conjunction with deworming in May and August. The effects of immature liver flukes, Faciola hepatica L., on performance, serum albumin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), hematocrit, and fibrinogen of grazing stocker cattle, and of adult flukes on performance of feedlot cattle were studied. There were no differences detected in performance, serum albumin, or fibrinogen between grazing stocker cattle infected with immature liver flukes and non-infected cattle. GGT values differed between the groups of grazing cattle by 47 days post-infection with metacercariae, and hematocrit values differed throughout the study between the two cattle groups. There were no differences detected in ADG between feedlot cattle infected with adult liver flukes (and treated with ivermectin), and cattle that were de-fluked (treated with ivermectin + clorsulon).