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AU Researcher Uncovers De-Worming Myths at Field Day
CROSSVILLE, Ala. - An Auburn University professor recently exposed the truth behind several common cattle de-worming myths, information that Alabama beef producers can use to put more pounds on their livestock and more money in their pockets.
About 65 area cattle producers recently attended a Forage/Livestock Field Day at the Sand Mountain Substation in Crossville, where they heard the latest information from the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station about treating cattle for internal parasites and other topics.
David Bransby, professor of agronomy and soils, used his research findings to disprove these current perceptions about de-worming cattle: good nutrition lessens the damage done by parasites, worms are more harmful at higher cattle stocking rates, a cow's appearance can reveal the presence of worms, there is no value in de-worming cattle on annual pastures and cattle with higher worm loads eat more.
"Our findings show all these perceptions are wrong," Bransby said. "Auburn researchers are working to shed light on the practical implications of these findings."
For example, Bransby said AU is possibly the first to show that parasite-infected cattle do not eat more.
"Worms depress the appetite of cattle," he explained. "This is important because much of the reduced production is caused by animals eating less. The cattle are sick and don't feel like going out to eat.
"The appetites of de-wormed cattle actually go up," Bransby added. "De-wormed cattle graze the pasture short and then won't be able to get enough to eat. You must make sure to have enough feed for them. If not, don't worm them, because you won't get a weight-gain response if you can't meet the demands of their increased appetite."
Bransby also discussed other worming perceptions: that it is possible to reduce parasite loads in pastures; and that rotational grazing helps control worms. "Our findings show these perceptions are doubtful," he said.
Also at the field day, Bransby reported that the weight-gain response for cattle de-wormed with Ivermectin while grazing on fungus-infected fescue is greater than the response that would be expected from de-worming alone. Ivermectin seems to reduce the toxic effects of the fungus, which is found in almost all fescue fields, he said.
Edzard van Santen, assistant professor of agronomy and soils, reported on research to establish a new feed grain and winter cover crop in Alabama. He and other researchers are working to establish white lupin, a sweet, high-protein legume that can be fed to livestock without processing. It also would be a valuable winter cover crop because it produces its own nitrogen, much of which is left in the soil to fertilize crops later planted.
Don Ball and Mary Miller, also of the AU Department of Agronomy and Soils, discussed other issues related to forage crops.
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News from:
Office of Ag Communications & Marketing
Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)
Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu
May 20, 1993
