Effect of anthelmintic treatment immediately after calving on milk production

The effects of anthelmintic treatment on the milk production of cows subjected to contrasting nutritional conditions before and after calving were determined. Half of the cows in each of 2 management treatments were treated with 3.75 grams of fenbendazole on the second day after calving and twice more at weekly intervals. Treated and control cows were grazed together for the entire lactation. Treated cows produced 8% more (P less than 0.05) milk over the 20 weeks lactation than the untreated cows. One third of the total lactation response to anthelmintic treatment occurred during weeks 5 to 10 of lactation. The observed responses occurred despite equal larval challenge to treated and control cows and therefore the responses obtained are discussed in the context of a reduction in the worm burden.