Effects of three commercial flukicidal products on the production of beef cattle in Mpumalanga

Abstract

The effects of three commercial flukicidal products on the growth and body mass change of beef cows and heifers were investigated due to the concerns of farmers that these substances may have adverse effects on the performance of extensive beef cattle. Body mass of 108 adult non-pregnant Bonsmara cows of about four years of age and weighing between 400-600kg, as well as 126 two years old Beefmaster heifers weighing between 121kg-300kg were studied after oral administration of Flukazole C® (Virbac, Registration no. G3533), FluxacurNF® (MSD Animal Health, Registration no. G3202), or topical application of Sovereign pour- on® (MSD Animal Health, Registration no. 3831) over a six month period during which most internal parasite challenges were expected. Cows and heifers from these groups with sheltering Fasciola spp infection were stratified according to their weights and randomly assigned to four treatment groups namely: Group 1 comprising unmedicated animals (controls), Group 2 included animals treated with Flukazole C orally at 1ml/10kg body mass; Group 3 included animals treated orally at 1ml/10kg body mass with Fluxacur and Group 4 was animals treated topically with Sovereign pour on at the dose of 1ml/10kg body mass. Weights of animals were recorded monthly, faecal and blood samples were collected twice during the trial namely at days 35 and 118 of the trial. Pregnancy status was also determined at day 57. No differences were observed in body condition scores, or body mass between treatment groups. Differences were observed in body mass change between treatment groups during the experimental period. The results show that there was no significant effect of treatment per se on the growth of either heifers or cows in this specific experiment.