PREVENTION OF CLINICAL TRICHOSTRONGYLIDOSIS IN CALVES BY STRATEGIC FEEDING WITH THE PREDACIOUS FUNGUS DUDDINGTONIA FLAGRANS

The present investigation showed that strategic feeding of first-seaso n calves with the microfungus Duddingtonia flagrans through the initia l 3 months of the grazing season could prevent severe clinical trichos trongylidosis in the late summer. The successful prevention of disease was particularly noteworthy in view of the high stocking rate practic ed on this permanent pasture, which was widely contaminated with a ran ge of gastrointestinal nematodes. The results showed that larval popul ations of Ostertagia and Cooperia were significantly reduced on the pa sture grazed by the fungus-treated calves. Numbers of Nematodirus seem ed less affected. The present paper discusses the complexity of fungus -nematode interactions in dung pats under natural conditions.