Abstract
The accuracy of the FAMACHA© method was evaluated on the identification of female sheep fed two levels of crude protein, naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus, by means of the correspondent hematocrit value. Forty-seven female sheep of the breeds Santa Inês (n = 16), Texel (n = 16) and Ile de France (n = 15) aged between eight and twelve months were assigned to two treatments, 12 or 16 % crude protein in the diet. All the animals were wormed thirty days before the first data collections, which were done fortnightly between July 2005 and March 2006. The color of the ocular conjunctiva was individually evaluated according to the precepts of the FAMACHA© method and the hematocrit value of each animal was obtained in laboratory. A correlation of 1:0.7991 was found between the hematocrit values and the classification given by the FAMACHA© method aiming to identify animals with different degrees of anemia. The method was efficient to identify animals to worm, thus representing a support in the identification of animals susceptible to Haemonchus contortus.
Highlights
Infections caused by gastrointestinal parasites are a significant cause for economic losses in sheep
The animals in the Treatment 1 (T1) received diet recommended by the NRC (2007) containing 60% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 12% crude protein (CP); animals of the Treatment 2 (T2) received a diet containing 60% TDN and 16% CP
When the classification by the FAMACHA© method is adjusted according to the hematocrit value (Figure 2) obtained from laboratory analysis, there is a slight change in the results
Summary
Infections caused by gastrointestinal parasites are a significant cause for economic losses in sheep. Worms represent the greatest and worst health problem concerning the sheep industry and can economically impede the sheep production (BUZZULINI et al, 2007), and may account for 60% of losses in the activity. This is due to an overspending with anthelmintics and the mortality of recently calved females and young animals, with consequent reduction in herd replacement and in. The tropical climate of this country has humid summer and mild winter, requiring farmers to worm more frequently sheep herds compared with the production under temperate climate. 209-214, Apr.-June, 2014 infected with larvae of Haemonchus sp. The animals are Maringá, v. 36, n. 2, p. 209-214, Apr.-June, 2014 infected with larvae of Haemonchus sp. while they are grazing and depending on many factors like breed, age and nutritional condition, the negative impact over the individual and herd productivity can be substantial
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