Mathematical models to assess strategies for the control of gastrointestinal roundworms in cattle: 1. Construction

Mathematical models were constructed to simulate the effect of Ostertagia ostertagi infections on the growth of young cattle. The equations are based on System Dynamics using the DYSMAP 2 software package in their construction. A pasture and animal growth model simulates the growth of pasture and the influences of management and climate on it; cattle feed intake and conversion into energy for maintenance and liveweight gain; the effect of the parasite burden on feed intake and utilization of energy. This model was then combined with one of the life cycle of O. ostertagi in order to determine the effect of worm burdens on animal growth rate in a range of farm conditions, such as stocking rate, grazing history of the pasture, and rainfall. By converting the resultant liveweight gain into a monetary value, an economic assessment of alternative worm control strategies can be made. In this paper the construction of the models with equations and assumptions is given in detail.