Control of parasitic bronchitis and gastroenteritis in grazing cattle by strategic prophylaxis with ivermectin

In May 1985 four groups of 10 calves, aged between four and five months, were turned out on to separate, permanent pastures of equal area which had been seeded during the previous few days with larvae of Dictyocaulus viviparus. One group acted as a control, the second was vaccinated with lungworm vaccine before turnout and treated with thiabendazole three, eight and 13 weeks after turnout, while the third and fourth groups were given ivermectin three times (three, eight and 13 weeks after turnout) and twice (three and eight weeks after turnout), respectively. A severe outbreak of parasitic bronchitis resulted in the death of three control calves within five weeks of turnout and parasitic bronchitis and gastroenteritis affected the second group of calves after approximately four months at pasture. The calves given ivermectin excreted no lungworm larvae and remained free of clinical parasitism throughout the trial.