Interaction of gastro-intestinal nematodes and calf weaning
management on beef cattle growth
C.J. BOOM, G.W. SHEATH AND A. VLASSOFF
AgResearch Whatawhata, Private Bag 3089, Hamilton, New Zealand
E-Mail:
NZSAP 2003 Abstract No. 16
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production
63: 61-65
An experiment was undertaken to study the effects of calf
weaning management on growth rates and susceptibility to
gastro-intestinal nematodes. Treatments were: weaned at 6 months (of
age) and normal anthelmintic use; weaned at 6 months and no
anthelmintics; weaned at 6 months yet grazed with dam until 9 months and
no anthelmintics; weaned at 9 months and no anthelmintics. At 9 months
of age, calf live weights for the four treatments were: 264, 253, 265
and 308 kg respectively (SED = 2.0). Faecal-egg counts and serum
pepsinogen levels were not affected by weaning date. Milk consumption by
the later weaned calves was 4.2 kg/day, resulting in herbage intakes
being 25% lower than calves in other treatments (P<0.01). When
suckling calves to 9 months of age, the cost of this milk production to
the cow was 26 kg live weight (SED = 6.3). Later weaning gave a
substantial increase in calf live weight (P<0.001), which can be
attributed to milk consumption. Faecal-egg counts and serum pepsinogen
levels indicated that milk consumption did not have a direct effect on
gastro-intestinal nematode burdens.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
beef cattle; weaning date; nematodes; Cooperia; milk
intake; resilience
Last Updated 8/07/2004
