Effect of anthelmintic treatment of dairy cattle on milk production related to some parameters estimating nematode infection

H. W. Ploeger*, G. J W Schoenmaker, A. Kloosterman, F. H M Borgsteede

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    On 31 farms, blood samples were taken from adult dairy cattle in September 1985, when pastured, and in November-December 1985, when stabled, to assess serum pepsinogen levels and level of nematode antibody titres. Faecal samples taken in September were examined to establish the presence of parasites by means of egg counts and larval identification. During the stabling period, dry cows were either treated with ivermectin or with a placebo in alternate sequence of expected calving date. As a result, 285 cows were treated with ivermectin while 242 cows served as controls. Anthelmintic treatment resulted in a significant increase in the 305-day milk production of 205.1 kg (P<0.01). Fat and protein percentages were not significantly influenced by antihelmintic treatment. These was a significant between-herd variation in nematode antibody titres and in pepsinogen values. The mean herd milk-production response to treatment correlated positively with the mean herd Ostertagia antibody titre measured in September 1985 (r=0.364, P<0.05).

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)239-253
    Number of pages15
    JournalVeterinary Parasitology
    Volume34
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1989

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