Effects of anthelmintic treatment and feed supplementation on grazing Tuli weaner steers naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

A Magaya,N Kyvsgaard,S Thamsborg,A.L Willingham,S Mukaratirwa

doi:10.4102/jsava.v71i1.674

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes in indigenous Tuli cattle and the effect of dietary protein supplementation and anthelmintic treatment on productivity in young growing cattle. Forty steers with an average age of 18 months were divided into 4 groups; 1) fenbendazole (slow release bolus) and cottonseed meal (FCSM group), 2) fenbendazole (FBZ group), 3) cottonseed meal (CSM group) and 4) control (no cottonseed meal and no fenbendazole) (control group). Performance parameters measured included worm eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), packed cell volume (PCV), albumin and live-weight gain. Results showed that faecal worm egg counts were lower and PCV was higher in the FCSM and FBZ groups than in the CSM and control groups (P < 0.01). Weight gains were higher in the CSM and FCSM groups than in the FBZ and control groups (P < 0.05). The cost benefits of anthelmintic treatment and dietary supplementation were apparent in this study. The improved growth performance of the FCSM, FBZ and CSM groups reflected a financial gain over the controls on termination of the study. The dominant genera of gastrointestinal nematodes on faecal culture, pasture larval counts and necropsy were Cooperia and Haemonchus. The incidences of Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum and Bunostomum were low.

Highlights

Gastrointestinal helminthoses play a major role in decreasing livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, in young and growing animals
During the rainy season (December to March), environmental conditions were ideal for the development and translation of infective larvae on herbage
It is during this period that faecal egg counts began to rise, reaching their highest peaks between March and May

Summary

Introduction

Gastrointestinal helminthoses play a major role in decreasing livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, in young and growing animals. In Zimbabwe, parasites of the genera Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum, Trichostrongylus, Bunostomum, Strongyloides and Toxocara vitulorum have been reported in cattle[29,31,33]. Ostertagia ostertagi has been reported on 1 irrigated farm in the highveld of Zimbabwe[28]. Anthelmintics have been the most popular and widely-used means of controlling helminth parasites. Cases of resistance to benzimidazoles by populations of Trichostrongylus axei, O. ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora have been reported in cattle in Australia[10] and New aDepartment of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. BDanish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Ridebanevej 3, 1870 Frederisksberg C, Denmark.

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Results

Conclusion