By Robyn Joubert
Feedlot cattle have fewer internal parasites than non-feedlot cattle, a report published by the University of Fort Hare (UFH) has found. This could have a bearing on cattle farmers, due to their impact on animal performance.
“Feedlots have emerged as an ideal option to pursue sustainable and efficient livestock production. The establishment and widespread adoption of feedlots can provide solutions to the complex problems of food security, animal welfare and environmental sustainability,” the report said.
Originally published by Frontiers in Animal Science in 2023, the findings were republished in December 2024 in UFH 2024 Research Report.
Led by UFH researchers Beautiful Isabel Mpofu, Mhlangabezi Slayi and Ishmael Festus Jaja, in collaboration with Gabriel Mutero and Sisipho Mlahlwa from the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), the team studied 120 cattle slaughtered at two commercial abattoirs in East London and Queenstown.
Faecal egg counts revealed roundworms to be the biggest parasitic burden in both feedlot and non-feedlot cattle. Brown stomach worm, wireworm and bankrupt worm were the main culprits. These roundworms accounted for 35% of the faecal egg count in feedlot cattle, and 42.5% in non-feedlot cattle.
Whipworm and conical fluke accounted for 16.7% and 15.8% in feedlot cattle, compared to 17.5% and 18.3% in non-feedlot cattle. Non-feedlot cattle also showed higher counts of liver fluke.
“The higher numbers in non-feedlot cattle suggest that animals grazing on open land are more exposed to parasite infections compared to those kept in feedlots, where they are given controlled diets and often receive veterinary care,” researchers said.
The study also found that feedlot cattle had an average live weight of 298kg. This was not significantly higher than non-feedlot cattle at 287kg, despite the optimized feeding practices and controlled environments of feedlots.
“This may be because the heavy rainfall experienced in 2023 closed the gap in live weight gain … as there was sufficient natural pasture in communally raised cattle,” the report said.
Body condition scores were however significantly different, with 6.7% of feedlot cattle classified as “good” compared to 1.7% of non-feedlot cattle.
“This indicates that the nutritional status of the animals does vary between the two systems… As parasite load increases, there might be a subtle tendency for body condition to decrease. These results underscore the importance of feedlots as an effective management strategy to improve animal health and productivity.”
Researchers noted that many non-feedlot cattle processed at these abattoirs came from communal farmers. These farmers often lack access to veterinary services, regular deworming programmes, and controlled feeding systems, putting their livestock at higher risk of parasite infections.
Implications for the beef industry
South Africa is a major beef producer, supplying 21.4% of Africa’s meat. As demand for beef rises, effective livestock and parasite management are key to enhancing cattle health and productivity, in both feedlot and non-feedlot operations.
“Effective parasite control measures, regular monitoring of faecal egg counts, and strategies to improve nutritional status are essential for maximising growth and maintaining optimal body condition.”
Read the original paper.
