Project Overview
This
3-year study looks at conventional wormers (anthelmintics) used to
control gastrointestinal parasites in
cattle. It also focuses on cattle feed supplements that are often
marketed for their possible potential to control internal parasites.
These supplements may include nematode-trapping fungi, herbal
formulations, remains of diatoms, high-tannin forage and novel
anthelmintics.
The
work focuses on looking at the impact of these treatments on UK dung
fauna, and relating this to dung decomposition. Fieldwork trials will
focus on their potential toxic impact on invertebrates and
microorganisms that inhabit the dung. In addition, any impact on rates
of decomposition of dung in the field will be researched. Laboratory
toxicity studies will be carried out to
back up fieldwork.
All
fieldwork takes place in
Pembrokeshire. Marc & Sally Evans, Cuckoo Grove Farm and Roger
& Jackie Mathias, Furzy Mount, Camrose (and nephews) supplied
cattle for the trial in 2009. These matched cattle were randomly split
into groups, and each group was randomly assigned a different treatment
during the early grazing season of 2009:
1. Ivermectin
2. Diatomaceous Earth
3. Garlic pour-on
4. Duddingtonia flagrans nematode-trapping fungus
5. Verm-X herbal internal parasite control
6. Diatomaceous Earth Mineral Lick
7. Copper Bolus
8. Homeopathic Treatment
9. No Treatment
Dung
was collected from each group of cattle pre-worming and at regular
intervals post-worming. The dung was frozen and artificial dung pats
were formed from the dung of each group of cattle and placed in a grid
at the field site in St Davids. Field and laboratory trials look at
faecal egg counts from each group of cattle, assess the impact of
treatment on dung invertebrates and on dung removal and nitrogen
cycling.
I hope to be able to repay the
generosity of local farmers by keeping them comprehensively informed with any
developments in my work, and giving a number of talks and seminars throughout
Pembrokeshire and beyond.
