Influence of ivermectin and clorsulon treatment on productivity of a cow-calf herd on the southern Oregon coast.
The reproductive performance of beef cows and the weight gain of their calves was evaluated after oral administration of clorsulon or clorsulon in combination with the subcutaneous administration of ivermectin. One hundred and fifty pregnant cows harboring infections of Fasciola hepatica were assigned to one of three treatment groups: Group 1 comprising 50 unmedicated controls; Group 2, 50 cows treated with clorsulon orally at 7 mg kg-1; Group 3, 50 cows treated with clorsulon orally at 7 mg kg-1 and ivermectin subcutaneously at 200 micrograms kg-1. Weights and body condition scores of the cows were measured and fecal and blood samples were taken at trial initiation and days 158 and 270. Pregnancy status was also determined at day 270. Weights and body condition scores were measured for the calves at days 158 and 270. Adjusted 205 day weaning weight of the calves was calculated and analyzed for differences between treatment groups. Four sets of tracer calves were used periodically throughout the trial to monitor the helminth challenge to the herd. Both gastro-intestinal nematodes and liver flukes were transmitted to the tracer calves during the entire trial. Even in the face of continual helminth challenge, beef cows treated with combined clorsulon/ivermectin conceived approximately 2 weeks earlier than their untreated counterparts and their calves had better body condition scores and weights than untreated calves.
Rickard
L G
LG
College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331-4802.
Zimmerman
G L
GL
Hoberg
E P
EP
Bishop
J K
JK
Pettitt
R J
RJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000980:Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary; D009922:Oregon; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction; D013424:Sulfanilamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000980:Antiplatyhelmintic Agents; D013424:Sulfanilamides; D007559:Ivermectin; C015675:clorsulon