Effect of antiparasitic treatment in beef replacement heifers

Two studies were conducted in western Canada to evaluate the impact of antiparasitic treatment on weight gain and reproductive performance in beef replacement heifers from weaning to first breeding. Treatment of heifers at weaning with ivermectin increased the rate of weight gain in comparison to treatment with fenthion. The feed efficiency of ivermectin-treated animals was also significantly better than those treated with fenthion. Increased weight was associated with an increased number of animals in estrus at the end of the feeding period for heifers receiving ivermectin. We concluded that treatment with ivermectin improved feed efficiency and weight gain in heifers from weaning to breeding. In turn, this weight gain appeared to be associated with an increased number of heifers in estrus.