Facts and Figures about protecting your investments.

THE FIGURES

THE FACTS

Nothing beats IVOMEC® products for better results.

• Fast acting (1)
• Wide margin of safety for target animals
• Most widely tested
• Widest range of parasites
• Most widely used - world-wide and in Australia
• The most formulations
• The most technical and field support
• Most potent endectocide (1)
• Active ingredient registered for use in horses, cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, camels (2)
• Active ingredient registered for use in humans
• Registered in 57 countries
• Scientifically proven to increase yields (1)
• No need for safety equipment
• Weatherproof (1)
• Designed to stay out of the milk (1)
• Controls Buffalo Fly for 21 days (3)
• Killed more parasites than any other endectocide
• Kills liver fluke (4)
• Kills screw worm flies (5)
• Kills cattle grub (5)

(1) IVOMEC® Eprinex™
(2) Overseas Registrations
(3) IVOMEC Pour-On
(4) IVOMEC Plus
(5) IVOMEC Injection

DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTIVITY STUDY

The third largest dairy productivity study of its kind in the world has recently concluded in Southern Australia. This definitive study involving cattle from nine different locations and six investigators, confirmed that treating dairy cows with IVOMEC® Eprinex™ at calving significantly increased dairy cow productivity.

Australian Dairy cows treated with IVOMEC® Eprinex™ produced:
MORE MILK
MORE FAT
MORE PROTEIN.

CONFIRMATION THAT WORMS REDUCE MILK PRODUCTION

The effect of gastrointestinal parasites on milk production in adult lactating dairy cattle has been a topic of considerable discussion in recent decades. Until now, there were no definitive studies to settle the debate. In 1997, Merial embarked on a research program to clearly define the effect of parasites on lactation and reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Sufficient data are now available to describe the role parasites can play in dairy cow lactation, and the economic benefits that can be derived from effective control using IVOMEC® Eprinex™.

AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH

Most recently, Southern Australia has been the location for the third largest dairy productivity study of its kind ever undertaken. A total of 9 herds from three state, involving more than 2500 dairy cows, participated in a study to investigate the milk production response following treatment with IVOMEC® Eprinex™ around the time of calving.

Key veterinarians in the Australian Dairy Industry collaborated to complete this study. The result is a definitive response to the question of parasites, their impact on dairy cow performance and the importance of treating all cattle around calving time.

PARASITE SPECIES PREVALENT IN DAIRY CATTLE IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA

Before treatment dairy cows participating in the study had typically low faecal egg counts (FEC) which would not be detected using routine procedures. Highly sensitive egg counting procedures were used to establish pre-treatment faecal egg counts resulting in 47% of samples being positive. Out of 464 faecal samples collected only 11 samples had egg counts exceeding 40 epg, so therefore, using standard egg counting procedures, 98% of these faecal samples would have incorrectly been recorded as zero epg.

These date reflect the inability of standard FEC's to diagnose economically significant levels of intestinal parasitism in dairy cows.

IVOMEC EPRINEX TREATMENT AT CALVING: A BOOST TO FARM INCOME

Cows were treated with IVOMEC Eprinex within 3 weeks of calving. Treated animals produced significantly more milk in the first 100 days of lactation, and this continued throughout the whole of lactation. Even more significant in terms of boosting income was the significant increase in milk protein and fat production over the whole of lactation. Given that milk payment schemes reward producers for protein and fat production, this represents an important boost to gross income.

Treatment of younger animals has been justified because the effects of worms are greater than in older cows. First calvers require additional protein and energy for growth in addition to that needed to produce milk. They are therefore less able to cope with parasite induced losses.

Treatment of older cows has been much more controversial. They were thought to be less likely to respond to treatment. However, these trials have clearly demonstrated that adult diary cows will also produce more protein and fat after treatment with IVOMEC Eprinex.

IVOMEC EPRINEX TREATMENT AT CALVING: A BOOST TO FARM PROFIT

Treatment with IVOMEC Eprinex increased milk production. Most of the increase occurred within 100 days of treatment, but the increase persisted for the whole of lactation. Over the whole lactation treated cows produced:

63L more litres
2.8kg more protein
2.8kg more milk fat

Treatment cost was recouped within 50 days of calving; the treatment investment doubled by 100 days and trebled by the end of lactation.

ONLY IVOMEC EPRINEX IS PROVEN TO DELIVER THE RESULTS
IVOMEC Eprinex is proven to boost productivity and profitability in dairy cattle under Australian conditions. No other endectocide has demonstrated a 48 litre boost to production over the first 100 days alone. IVOMEC Eprinex was specifically formulated with the dairy industry in mind. It has zero milk withholding in all markets and is the only endectocide designed to stay out of the milk - it partitions away from the milk, and gets to where the parasites are…. IVOMEC Eprinex is the most potent and fastest acting endectocide available. Following a single backline application, the product achieves very high blood levels to kill parasites rapidly. In addition the product has no odour and there is no requirement to wear protective clothing.

CONTROL OF BUFFALO FLIES USING IVOMEC

Buffalo flies are closely associated with their cattle host. The fertilised female flies only leave temporarily to lay eggs in dung. This feature of their life cycle provides an opportunity for effective control using IVOMEC.

IVOMEC Pour-On can control Buffalo Fly for up to 21 days and can replace labour-intensive and time consuming spraying and dipping. In fact, flies biting cattle up to 33 days after treatment are unable to lay viable eggs. Trials have demonstrated IVOMEC Pour-On is also fully effective against pyrethroid resistant fly, with additional broad-spectrum activity against worms, lice and cattle tick. Fly numbers can increase rapidly in moist summer conditions. For best results, it is important to treat all animals at first sign of Buffalo Fly.

CATTLE TICK (Boophilus microplus)

Infested cattle may lose condition because of “tick worry” and loss of blood. Heavy infestations can kill adult cattle as well as calves. Animals in poor condition, or those previously unexposed are especially vulnerable to severe tick infestations.

THE LIFE CYCLE

The Cattle Tick is a one-host tick, that is, all parasitic stages of the lifecycle occur on the same animal.

There are four stages in the life cycle of the Cattle Tick.

TICK NUMBERS RISE AND FALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Cattle ticks can be seen at any time of the year, but they mainly occur from late Spring to mid-Winter. The numbers found on cattle increase rapidly over the Spring period (Spring rise). A smaller Autumn rise is not uncommon. Control of emerging tick populations over the Spring period is important to prevent mature female ticks from contaminating pastures with ticks that will emerge in following seasons.

CATTLE TICK STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

As well as the direct costs of diminished production and the cost of effective tick control, cattle transmit Tick Fever, which is a serious blood-borne parasitic disease of cattle. Tick Fever can be lethal to susceptible animals, while others may suffer severe loss of condition.

TICK CONTROL WITH IVOMEC

IVOMEC Pour-On and IVOMEC Injection control Boophilus microplus including organophosphate, synthetic pyrethroid and amidine-resistant strains. Maximum tick efficacy is achieved 4-5 days after treatment. IVOMEC can be alternated with conventional dips or pour-ons when the program requires repeat treatments.

© Steve Cselka 2002 - 2011