Honors: All College Participants
Effects of anthelmintic treatments on performance indicators in stocker calves
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Equine Science
Minor
Business Administration
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Amanda Davis
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various anthelmintic treatments on fecal egg counts (FEC), body condition score (BCS), average daily gain (ADG), fly counts, and blood parameters in newly received stocker calves. Upon arrival at the Murray State University Beef Unit, steers (n = 30) were allowed a one-week adjustment period before allocation to treatment. Steers were randomly allocated to treatment based on initial body weight (BW) (297.77 kg ± 16.53) and FEC (43.10 eggs/gram; EPG). Treatments included: control (n = 10; no anthelmintic treatment; CON); moxidectin/oxfendazole combination (n = 10; COMBO); and long-acting eprinomectin (n = 10; LAE). Steers were comingled and allowed to graze mixed-grass pastures with pasture rotation based on forage availability. Body weight, fecal and blood samples were collected on d 0, 27, 56, and 101, and the following blood parameters were evaluated: white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLA), neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MON), basophils (BASO), and eosinophils (EOS). Fly counts were estimated on d 0, 31, 61, and 100. Data was analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS with individual steer as the experimental unit and d as a repeated measure. Two preplanned orthogonal contrasts were used to determine effects and included comparisons between: 1) CON vs treated steers, and 2) COMBO vs LAE steers. Strongyle EPG were similar between CON and treated steers (P > 0.1), but EPG were higher (P = 0.02) for COMBO vs LAE steers (22.97 vs 5.61 EPG, respectively). A treatment by d interaction was found for EPG (P = 0.02). Body weight and ADG were similar (P > 0.1) between treatments; however, ADG from d 27 to 56 was greater (P = 0.04) for LAE vs COMBO steers (1.29 vs 0.54). An effect of d (P < 0.01) was observed for fly counts and the following blood parameters: WBC, NEU, LYM, MON, BASO, and EOS. Eosinophils were greater (P = 0.03) in LAE vs COMBO steers (0.32 vs 0.19, respectively) while MON tended to be greater (P = 0.06) in LAE and COMBO steers (0.82 vs 0.65, respectively). Data suggests that anthelmintic use may have affected FEC, ADG, and blood parameters in newly received stocker calves.
Location
Classroom 211, Waterfield Library
Start Date
November 2016
End Date
November 2016
Affiliations
Honors Thesis
Effects of anthelmintic treatments on performance indicators in stocker calves
Classroom 211, Waterfield Library
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various anthelmintic treatments on fecal egg counts (FEC), body condition score (BCS), average daily gain (ADG), fly counts, and blood parameters in newly received stocker calves. Upon arrival at the Murray State University Beef Unit, steers (n = 30) were allowed a one-week adjustment period before allocation to treatment. Steers were randomly allocated to treatment based on initial body weight (BW) (297.77 kg ± 16.53) and FEC (43.10 eggs/gram; EPG). Treatments included: control (n = 10; no anthelmintic treatment; CON); moxidectin/oxfendazole combination (n = 10; COMBO); and long-acting eprinomectin (n = 10; LAE). Steers were comingled and allowed to graze mixed-grass pastures with pasture rotation based on forage availability. Body weight, fecal and blood samples were collected on d 0, 27, 56, and 101, and the following blood parameters were evaluated: white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLA), neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MON), basophils (BASO), and eosinophils (EOS). Fly counts were estimated on d 0, 31, 61, and 100. Data was analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS with individual steer as the experimental unit and d as a repeated measure. Two preplanned orthogonal contrasts were used to determine effects and included comparisons between: 1) CON vs treated steers, and 2) COMBO vs LAE steers. Strongyle EPG were similar between CON and treated steers (P > 0.1), but EPG were higher (P = 0.02) for COMBO vs LAE steers (22.97 vs 5.61 EPG, respectively). A treatment by d interaction was found for EPG (P = 0.02). Body weight and ADG were similar (P > 0.1) between treatments; however, ADG from d 27 to 56 was greater (P = 0.04) for LAE vs COMBO steers (1.29 vs 0.54). An effect of d (P < 0.01) was observed for fly counts and the following blood parameters: WBC, NEU, LYM, MON, BASO, and EOS. Eosinophils were greater (P = 0.03) in LAE vs COMBO steers (0.32 vs 0.19, respectively) while MON tended to be greater (P = 0.06) in LAE and COMBO steers (0.82 vs 0.65, respectively). Data suggests that anthelmintic use may have affected FEC, ADG, and blood parameters in newly received stocker calves.