AN ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT THE NEMATODE-TRAPPING FUNGUS DUDDINGTONIA-FLAGRANS IN BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF TRICHOSTRONGYLE INFECTIONS OF 1ST YEAR GRAZING CALVES

An attempt was made to control Ostertagia ostertagi by feeding the nem atode-trapping fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (DSM 6703) to grazing calv es. One group of calves (group E) was fed the fungal material in the f irst two months of the grazing season while another group was a non-tr eated control group (group C). Group E showed significantly lower faec al egg count in August and September. On four occasions in July and Se ptember, the herbage larval counts were significantly lower on the plo t with the fungal-treated group than those recorded on the control plo t The average abomasal larval and adult worm counts were significantly reduced in August in group E and the average total worm count in the abomasum of group E was reduced by 87% in August compared to the non-t reated group C. In October, the difference in average abomasal worm co unts between group E and C was insignificant. Due to weight loss at th e end of the grazing season, the control group showed a significantly lower average weight increase.