Responses in milk production to control of gastrointestinal nematode and paramphistome parasites in dairy cattle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of treating naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode and paramphistome infections on milk production in dairy cattle.


METHODS
A field trial.


METHODS
One thousand two hundred and thirty nine dairy cows.


METHODS
Cows were either not treated or treated with 4.5 mg/kg oxfendazole, 16.6 mg/kg oxyclozanide or 4.5 mg/kg oxfendazole and 16.6 mg/kg oxyclozanide in March, May and August.


RESULTS
A significant increase in milk production, averaging 0.4 L (SE 0.2) per day, was seen when dairy cows infected with gastrointestinal nematodes and paramphistomes were treated with oxfendazole or oxfendazole and oxyclozanide in March, May and August. Cows treated with oxyclozanide alone at these times produced no more milk than untreated cows. Faecal egg counts confirmed that oxyclozanide treatment reduced paramphistome populations and oxfendazole treatment reduced nematode populations in cows over the 7-month monitoring period.


CONCLUSIONS
When dairy cows infested with gastrointestinal nematodes and paramphistomes were treated with oxfendazole alone or oxfendazole and oxyclozanide in March, May and August milk production increased.
Spence
S A
SA
NSW Agriculture, Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, New South Wales.
Fraser
G C
GC
Chang
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010097:Oxyclozanide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010250:Paramphistomatidae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*
D000871:Anthelmintics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D010097:Oxyclozanide; C011030:oxfendazole