Effect of eprinomectin treatment on milk yield and quality in dairy cows in South Tyrol, Italy

Vet Rec. 2011 May 7;168(18):484. doi: 10.1136/vr.d134. Epub 2011 Apr 28.

Abstract

The effect of treatment with eprinomectin on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell counts (SCCs) was studied in 105 dairy cows located on seven farms in South Tyrol, Italy. On each farm, half of the animals were treated with eprinomectin and the other half were used as an untreated control group. Three test day records per animal were obtained before treatment (days -117, -75 and -33) and another three test day records were obtained after treatment (days 22, 62 and 131). Test day records comprised milk yield, milk composition, SCC and days in milk. On the day of treatment, blood samples and faecal samples were taken for parasitological analysis. Cows with positive faecal egg counts yielded less milk. A significant effect of eprinomectin on milk yield was observed after treatment and was most pronounced on the second and the third test days after treatment (+1.90 kg [P=0.002] and +2.63 kg [P<0.001], respectively). Furthermore, a significant decrease in SCC was observed on the second test day after treatment.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cattle Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cell Count / veterinary*
  • Dairying / methods
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / prevention & control
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
  • Italy
  • Ivermectin / administration & dosage
  • Ivermectin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lactation / drug effects*
  • Lactation / physiology
  • Milk* / chemistry
  • Milk* / cytology
  • Milk* / metabolism
  • Nematode Infections / drug therapy
  • Nematode Infections / prevention & control
  • Nematode Infections / veterinary
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Ivermectin
  • eprinomectin