Studies on nematode infections of beef cattle in New South Wales

The occurrence and seasonal trends of nematode parasite infections in beef cattle on the Tablelands and North Coast regions of New South Wales are described, based on worm counts from 627 spring-born steers slaughtered at 2-monthly intervals from 6 to 24 months of age. The predominant parasites were Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei and Cooperia spp. Large burdens of adult Ostertagia were seen in 12-month-old animals in late winter and early spring, and later in 18- to 20-month-old cattle in the following late summer and autumn. These infections often resulted in outbreaks of clinical parasitism. Massive numbers of inhibited early fourth stage larvae (EL4) also accumulated in the yearlings during their first spring, reached peaks in mid-summer and then declined. The possibility of their resumption of development to mature worms in the late summer and autumn period is discussed. Adult T. axei showed a similar seasonal trend to Ostertagia and may have increased the severity of outbreaks of clinical disease. Cooperia populations of EL4 and adult worms were highest in weaners during winter, but lower numbers thereafter indicated a strong resistance to re-infection. In addition, Haemonchus placei occurred frequently on the North Coast both as EL4 and adults in cattle of all ages up to 20 months. Of the other cattle nematodes, Oesophagostomum radiatum and Trichuris spp occurred in low numbers, mainly in weaners. Bunstomum phlebotomum and H. contortus occurred sporadically on the North Coast and Tablelands respectively. Intestinal Trichostronglyus spp, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Dictyocaulus viviparus were seen occasionally and Nematodirus spp were not seen. There was a poor relationship between worm counts and faecal egg counts. Cooperia spp dominated the egg counts, while those for other genera were generally low and did not reflect the relative abundance or seasonal changes in worm numbers.