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Performance and parasitological parameters of steers sequentially grazed with lambs

Bam, Joken; Thüer, Susann; Holinger, Mirjam; Oberhänsli, Thomas; Leubin, Markus; Leiber, Florian and Werne, Steffen (2022) Performance and parasitological parameters of steers sequentially grazed with lambs. Veterinary Parasitology, 302 (109645), pp. 1-9.

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Summary

In the majority of mixed or sequential gazing studies with sheep, cattle performance remained unaffected. However, the treatment regime of the sheep in these studies was often intense and this may have limited cross-transmission of nematodes from sheep to cattle. We conducted a sequential grazing trial with cattle and sheep with moderate anthelmintic intervention. Twenty first season grazing steers were stratified to 10 couples according to their origin, egg excretion per gram faeces (EPG), metabolic weight and previous weight gain record. Thirty naturally infected ewe lambs were stratified to 5 groups according to metabolic live weight and EPG. Five pairs of the steers were sequentially grazed with the 5 groups of lambs whereas another five pairs of steers served as control. Grazing duration was 70 days with a subsequent indoor period of additional 35 days for the steers. Weight and EPG was recorded 3 days before and 27, 49, 70 and 105 days after trial start. The recorded live-weight of the sequentially grazed steers was 182 ± 14, 191 ± 11, 205 ± 15, 219 ± 15 and 236 ± 18 and the live-weight of the control steers was 180 ± 18, 193 ± 19, 203 ± 21, 217 ± 24 and 234 ± 24 kg respectively. The EPG of the sequentially grazed steers 3 days before grazing start and at day 27, 49, 70 and 105 was 94 ± 100, 95 ± 48, 49 ± 42, 58 ± 41 and 140 ± 73 EPG respectively. The EPG of the control steers at the same dates was 96 ± 82, 98 ± 24, 104 ± 77, 98 ± 71 and 270 ± 287 EPG respectively. The sequentially grazed steer groups did not differ from the control groups with regard to EPG, live weight and daily weight gain. However, the sequentially grazed steers showed elevated pepsinogen levels compared to the control steers (e.g. 3.34 ± 1.05 units tyrosine and 1.29 ± 0.50 units tyrosine after 70 days of grazing, respectively). Larval samples from individual steer coprocultures of both groups were tested PCR-positive for Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi and Haemonchus contortus. We conclude that short term sequential grazing of first season grazing steers with lambs excreting mainly eggs of Haemonchus spp. did not adversely affect steer performance despite increased pepsinogen values. However, hot and dry conditions may have had a suppressive effect on larval development, migration and finally uptake by the steers.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:cattle, sheep, sequential grazing, gastrointestinal nematodes, weight gain, pepsinogen, FiBL50092
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
animal health
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_431
English
nematode control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5110
English
mixed farming
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4873
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Production systems > Beef cattle
Animal husbandry > Production systems > Sheep and goats
Animal husbandry > Health and welfare
Research affiliation: European Union > CORE Organic > CORE Organic Cofund > Mix-Enable
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Animal > Animal health > Parasitology
Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Animal > Small ruminants
DOI:10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109645
Deposited By: Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL
ID Code:44926
Deposited On:14 Dec 2022 12:58
Last Modified:14 Dec 2022 12:58
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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