ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF THE TICK RHIPICEPHALUS (BOOPHILUS) MICROPLUS (CANESTRINI, 1887) STRATEGIC CONTROL PROGRAMME ADOPTED IN DAIRY CATTLE

Abstract

The objective of this work is to assess the economic viability of the Tick Strategic Control Programme adopted by Embrapa Gado de Leite. The programme is based on the rationalization of the use of tick killers besides treatments while the tick population is reduced as well as the choice of the most suitable products against them through sensitivity tests of ticks and tick killers. In addition, the use of tick killers according to the correct quantity and solution sufficient to suffuse the whole animal body. The study has been done with 104 dairy cattle breeders in 27 different municipalities in the central and North region of the State of Minas Gerais. The data were collected through a questionnaire, between september and november 2010. It was detected that in 68% of the cattle, bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis are the most common infections among animals. Because of them and other problems, 79% of farmers decided to join the Programme as a result of the tecnitian recommendation and 70% because of the high rate of infestation. The program was joined and followed correctly by 79% of farmers. In such farms, the majority of farmworkers is hired (46%), the system of exploitation of the dairy activity is semi-intensive (84%), the racial pattern is Girolando breed (95%) and in 45% the average daily production vary between 40 to 400 litres. Before joining the programme, the dairy cows were the most affected, followed by calfs, in 89% of farms. To choose the right tick killer, 41% of farmers used to base their choice on the seller's opinion. After joining the programme, 94% of farmers followed the instructions provided by the technicians. The first reason mentioned (78%) for the permanence of the control plan was the credibility in the test on tick sensitivity to acaricides. Therefore, 90% of farmers noticed a reduction of attacks by the parasite, changing the way of suffusing the animals (100%). There was a decrease of 57% in expenses with tick killers per month and 33% reduction of treatments per year. In relation to bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, there was a decrease of 60% in the average number of cases and 100% in the average number of calf deaths. Thus, the results indicated that the adoption of tick strategic control in dairy cattle allowed the reduction of farm expenses related to chemical tick killers. Furthermore, the adoption of strategic control also allowed the decrease in direct and indirect financial losses caused by ticks, with positive effects on the production and quality of milk and dairy products as well.