Parasite Control Strategies on Cow-Calf Operations: A Systematic Review of Pharmaceutical Interventions against Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Pre-weaned Beef Calves and Qualitative Exploration of Producers' Perspectives
Creators: name: Agbese, Samuel Peter
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: literature review
subject: parasites
subject: qualitative interviews
subject: parasite control strategies
subject: beef calves
subject: Biology

description: Parasitism poses a significant threat to the health and productivity of grazing livestock globally and is a primary contributor to diseases in these animals. To ensure the long-term viability of cow-calf operations, it is imperative to adopt and implement strategies for controlling parasites. In Alberta, Canada, one of the most common parasite control strategies is the use of pharmaceutical interventions (i.e., anthelmintics). However, the summarized information on the existing evidence on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in pre-weaned beef calves, as well as how parasite control strategies are perceived by cow-calf producers in Alberta, are unknown. The objective of the first study was to assess the current scientific literature on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions on cow-calf operations to treat or control GIN in pre-weaned beef calves as measured by a reduction in fecal egg count. The review found that, of the 29 included articles, only 5 used the fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions for treating GIN. The drugs assessed in the 5 articles included albendazole, fenbendazole, doramectin, eprinomectin, and ivermectin. Studies focusing on benzimidazole drugs consistently reported FECRT values above 96% with evidence of greater effectiveness than the macrocyclic lactone drugs, which reported a range of FECRT from 15% to 93%. This was the first study to assess and compile the existing literature on the effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions in controlling GIN in pre-weaned beef calves. In the second study, the objective was to explore cow-calf producers’ perceptions about on-farm parasite control strategies and to describe the on-farm parasite control practices implemented by these respondents. Cow-calf producers in Alberta, Canada were sent a questionnaire to recruit interview participants and to identify their current parasite control strategies. Fifteen respondents were interviewed via telephone to explore their perceptions of parasite control strategies and rationale for the acceptance or rejection of parasite control practices. The study revealed that the majority of cow-calf producers rely on pharmaceutical parasite control products, and price was not the main factor in product selection. A lack of familiarity with some parasite control strategies was noted, such as pasture management, where producers often viewed parasite control as secondary or not at all when it came to pasture management, with the management of the grass being the main factor they emphasized. Additionally, veterinarians had influence over parasite control decisions but were not a major source of information on fecal sampling procedures, suggesting a need for improved communication.