5 December 2006
DeSoto, Kansas
Treating heifers with Safe-Guard® and then treating with Ivomec® yields more effective parasite control than a single treatment
Broad spectrum parasite control from a treatment of a fenbendazole oral drench, like Intervet’s Safe-Guard, and a treatment of an ivermectin pour-on, such as Ivomec, provides a number of benefits according to the results of two large trials involving feedlot heifers published this year by the American Society of Animal Science in the organization’s Journal of Animal Science, a prestigious, peer-reviewed publication of research.
The publication of the results from both trials is further evidence that a multi-spectrum approach is the most effective parasite control treatment. The first trial showed that feedlot heifers treated with fenbendazole (Safe-Guard) and treated with an ivermectin (Ivomec) consumed more feed, gained more weight and produced heavier carcasses than heifers treated with the ivermectin alone. In a separate trial, heifers treated with Safe-Guard and treated with Ivomec showed benefits over heifers treated with a doramectin injectable (Dectomax®) alone.
Multiple parasiticides are commonly applied to cattle at the same time to address more than one spectrum of parasite coverage, such as internal control via Safe-Guard and external control of flies and lice with Ivomec.
“Different classes of parasite control products work differently in terms of reducing or eliminating parasite burden in feedlot cattle,” says Chris Reinhardt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Feedlot Extension Specialist at Kansas State University. “No single anti-parasite treatment does as good a job as a broad spectrum approach.”
Reinhardt notes that the ivermectin and doramectin products have the same mode of action, while the fenbendazole product maintains a completely different mode of action.
The two feedlot studies sponsored by Intervet, involved a total of 1,862 yearling heifers to compare the benefits of treatment with fenbendazole and treatment with ivermectin verses treatment with just ivermectin or just a doramectin injectable.
Growth and Performance
In the first study, heifers treated with Safe-Guard and treated with Ivomec consumed more dry matter than heifers treated only with Ivomec, resulting in higher average daily gains (ADG) and higher body weight. In the second study, heifers given Safe-Guard and Ivomec also consumed more dry matter and had a higher ADG and a heavier final body weight than those injected with just Dectomax. There was no significant difference in feed conversion due to treatment in either study.
Reducing Parasite Burden
In addition to better performance, the first study showed heifers treated with Safe-Guard and treated with Ivomec pour-on had 73 percent fewer worm eggs per fecal sample 98 days after treatment than heifers that were treated with ivermectin alone.
“While the post-treatment fecal egg counts for the ivermectin-treated heifers were not extremely high, egg counts as low as nine eggs per 3-gram sample have been shown to significantly reduce performance in yearling cattle,” says Reinhardt. “A small number of eggs do not necessarily translate to a small number of adult parasites.”
In the second study, heifers receiving the multi-spectrum treatment of Safe-Guard and a treatment of Ivomec had fewer worm eggs per fecal sample 35 days after treatment and smaller numbers of adult and larval Cooperia and Trichostrongylus in the small intestine at slaughter than heifers treated with only Dectomax.
“The results of this study further show that relying solely on an endectocide dewormer for feedlot deworming is not enough,” says Mitch Johnson, Intervet marketing manager for cattle pharmaceuticals. “Using a fenbendazole, such as Safe-Guard, as part of a broad spectrum deworming program in a feed yard delivers improved parasite control, ultimately increasing growth performance, carcass value, and profitability.”
For more information on the study, Intervet’s portfolio of animal-health products, or Intervet’s Parasite-Free Warranty Program, call Intervet Customer Service at 1-800-441-9272 or visit www.intervetusa.com.
Editors’ note: Producers can find out the effectiveness of their own deworming program free of charge through the Intervet Parasite Evaluation Program. See details in the “sidebar” at the end of this press release.
Free Parasite Evaluation for Cattle Producers
Producers have a wide range of choices when it comes to selecting a deworming program for their herd. Yet, how are they to know how effective it is?
With Intervet’s Parasite Evaluation Clinic (PEC) program, producers can find out the effectiveness of their deworming programs free of charge. The Parasite Evaluation program is a free program designed to give producers unbiased information they can use to make meaningful, informed decisions about the control of internal parasites.
The collection process is simple and convenient. Producers collect fecal samples from their cattle herd using the collection kit provided free of charge by an Intervet sales representative or participating PEC sponsors. Once the fecal samples are collected, the producer can ship them to one of four independent laboratories monitored by industry expert parasitologists. There are also local PEC clinics held across the country hosted by local veterinary clinics and feed stores.
After unbiased evaluations are made, the parasitologists will disclose the test results and provide free consultation to producers on recommended deworming practices. Intervet covers the cost of the sample collection kits, as well as the lab costs associated, but is not involved with any of the testing. Producers can be confident that the information they receive is fair and unbiased.
For more information on the PEC program, to request a sample collection kit, or to get in contact with an Intervet sales representative, call 1-800-441-8272.
