Reduced gastrointestinal worm burden following long term parasite control improves body condition and fertility in beef cows

The objective of this study was to compare effects of gastrointestinal parasite control over a long vs short term (PC-LT vs. PC-ST) on fecal parasite load, body condition and pregnancy in beef cows. On Day 0, fecal samples were collected from Angus cross cows (n = 1462) and they were assigned a body condition score (BCS: 1, emaciated; 9, Obese) and randomly divided into two groups (within location) to receive extended-release eprinomectin [PC-LT; n = 749; 50 mg/50 kg body weight (BW)] or pour-on ivermectin (PC-ST; n = 713; 25 mg/50 kg BW). All cows were synchronized with CO-Synch + CIDR [100 mu g GnRH + progesterone vaginal insert (CIDR) application on Day 20, CIDR removal +25 mg PGF2a on Day 27, and artificial insemination +100 mu g GnRH on Day 30 (66 h after CIDR removal)] protocol, artificially inseminated (AI; Day 30) and on Day 44, exposed to breeding bulls (1:40 bull to cow ratio) for the remainder of the 85 day breeding season. On Day 90, a second fecal sample was collected from all cows and the cows were examined to determine pregnancy/AI (P/AI). All cows were assigned a BCS on Day 180 and re-examined to determine pregnancy/breeding season (P/ BS). Worm egg count per gram of feces (FEG) was determined by McMaster method. There were no differences (P 0.1) between PC-LT and PC-ST groups on Day 0 for FEG (46.9 +/- 13.1 vs 42.6 +/- 15.2, respectively; mean +/- SEM) or BCS (5.95 +/- 0.12 vs 6.00 +/- 0.20). The mean FEG (PC-LT, 12.3 +/- 4.7 vs. PC-ST, 131.3 +/- 10.9) on Day 90 and BCS (PC-LT, 6.04 +/- 0.07 vs. PC-ST, 5.79 +/- 0.13) on Day 180 differed (P < 0.05) between the two groups. Mean P/AI [PC-LT, 62.9 %; (471/749) vs PC-ST, 57.4 %; (409/713)] and P/BS [PC-LT, 92.9 % (696/749) vs PC-ST, 90.0 (642/713)] also differed (P < 0.05). Lower FEG at Day 90 resulted in moderate to good body condition at Day 180 and cows with moderate to good body condition at Day 180 had higher P/BS. In conclusion, lower worm burden with long-term parasite control reduced FEG and improved BCS, P/AI and P/BS.