Weight gain and control of endo- and ectoparasites of beef heifers treated with allopathic, herbal and homeopathic drugs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of herbal, homeopathic and allopathic treatments for parasites in beef heifers during two experimental cycles of 318 and 313 days. Treatments: NC -negative control (untreated); HH -treated with homeopathic preparation Homeo bovis Parasitário  ; PC -(positive control) -treated with 10% moxidectina  and an acaricide formulation of cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and piperonyl butoxide  ; HF -treated with homeopathic preparation Fator C&MC  ; and FN -treated with neem cake (torta de neem  ) and with neem oil (óleo de neem  ). Parasite egg count (EPG), horn fly (Haematobia irritans) and tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) assessment and animal weighting were performed at 28-day intervals. Blood samples were collected at the first cycle to assess the immune response. Horn fly infestation was not affected by any treatment (P>0.05). The mean number of ticks, which was low in both cycles, was lower (P<0.05) in the first cycle in animals that received PC treatment. In both experimental cycles, the mean EPG of the PC-treated animals was lower (P<0.05) than the animals receiving other treatments. Treatments had no effect on the immune response (P>0.05). The animals treated with allopathic drugs were 22 to 30 kg heavier (P<0.05) than untreated animals or animals treated with alternative drugs.Keywords: Beef cattle, tick, nematodes, horn fly, anthelmintics, alternative control. ResumoO objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de tratamentos fitoterápicos, homeopáticos e alopáticos contra ecto e endoparasitas na recria de novilhas, em dois ciclos experimentais subsequentes de 318 e 313 dias. Tratamentos: CN -controle negativo -não tratado; tratamento HH -tratado com homeopático Homeo bovis Parasitário  ; tratamento CP -controle positivo -tratado com moxidectina 10%  e uma formulação acaricida contendo cypermetrina, clorpirifós e butóxido de piperonila  ; tratamento HF -tratado com homeopático Fator C&MC  e tratamento FN -tratados com torta de neem  e com óleo de neem  . A contagem de ovos nas fezes (OPG), a infestação por Haematobia irritans, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus e pesagem dos animais foram realizadas em intervalos de 28 dias. No primeiro ciclo foi coletado sangue para avaliar a resposta imume. A infestação por mosca-dos-chifres não foi influenciada por nenhum dos tratamentos (P>0,05). Nos dois ciclos o número médio de carrapatos foi baixo e apenas no primeiro foi menor (P>0.05) no tratamento CP em relação aos demais. A média de OPG no tratamento CP foi mais baixa que nos demais tratamentos nos dois ciclos experimentais (P<0,05). Não houve efeito de tratamentos na resposta imune. Os animais do tratamento CP ganharam entre 22 a 30 kg de peso vivo a mais (P<0,05) que os não tratados ou tratados com medicamentos alternativos.

Gastrointestinal nematode infections do not hinder the development of Simmental X Nellore crossbred calves raised with a nutritionally enhanced diet

“…It is therefore difficult to compare our results with those of studies that used products also active against ectoparasites (Bianchin et al, 2007;Catto et al, 2009;Soutello, 2001). For instance, Catto et al (2013) reported that Brangus heifers treated with moxidectin and an acaricide showed lower FECs and tick infestations than untreated animals or animals treated with alternative drugs, which resulted in heifers 22 to 30 kg heavier in the treated group. Hence, in those experiments, the benefits in body weight gain may have resulted from the control of both endo-and ectoparasites.…”

“…Later, in Central Brazil, young treated cattle showed higher gains in body weight than untreated controls in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (Bianchin et al, 1995(Bianchin et al, , 2007Borges et al, 2013;Catto et al, 2013;Heckler et al, 2016), Minas Gerais (Furlong et al, 1993;Guimarães et al, 2000;Lima et al, 1985;1997), and São Paulo (Oliveira & Freitas, 1998;Soutello, 2001). In contrast, no difference was found between treated and untreated cattle in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul (Catto & Furlong, 1982;Catto et al, 1993;Sereno et al, 2000) and in São Paulo (Santos et al, 1977).…”