Economic benefits of the autumn treatment with anthelmintics of cattle being housed for their second winter: a comparison of the effectiveness of thiophanate, thiabendazole and fenbendazole

Abstract

A trial was conducted on a farm in Northumberland, to investigate the economic benefits accruing from the routine administration of authelmintics to 80, one year-old steers at the time of bringing them into winter housing. Three anthelmintics were compared with untreated controls.

The liveweight gains obtained by the cattle treated with fenbendazole showed a considerable superiority over those of the untreated cattle, for the period 19th November 1977 to 29th June 1978.

Faecal worm egg counts were also recorded to demonstrate the effectiveness of the anthelmintics in reducing the gastro-intestinal nematode burden of the cattle. All three drugs appeared to have a significant effect in reducing worm egg production right through to the following early spring.

The system of winter feeding was also reviewed and an alternative system is suggested which ought to increase the productivity and profitability of the farm.