Effect of strategic anthelmintic treatment and pasture management on productivity and control of nematode parasites in weaner-yearling beef cattle.

Three groups of 17 beef calves were used to evaluate effects of strategic anthelmintic treatment on safe (group 1) and contaminated (group 2) pasture in comparison with minimal treatment at weaning and contaminated pasture (group 3). The investigation extended from weaning in November 1982 to the following August. Results of faecal egg counts, herbage larval counts, plasma pepsinogen and tracer calf worm counts in autumn and spring indicated minimal levels of infection on safe pastures provided in November and April (group 1). A decided weight gain advantage for group 1 was achieved from November to April, but the rate of gain was not consistent after April and transfer to the second safe pasture. Final average weights in late August were: group 1, 368 kg; group 2, 336 kg; group 3, 262 kg. All were significantly different (P less than 0.05). Worm counts from representative yearlings in September revealed low to moderate levels of Ostertagia ostertagi in group 1. In contrast group 2 cattle had large, almost exclusively O ostertagi infections; group 3 cattle had exceedingly high levels of Trichostrongylus axei infection and moderate to high levels of O ostertagi. Marginal evidence of type 2 ostertagiasis was observed in individual animals of group 2 and group 3.