Economic impact of the use of anthelmintics in beef cattle in the rearing phase

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of anthelmintics and their influence on the performance of beef cattle supplemented during the rearing period, carrying out a cost analysis of the different treatments. 120 Nelore animals were used, with an average of 9 months of age, 60 males and 60 females. The animals were distributed into 6 groups of males and 6 of females, five treated with anthelmintics and a control group, G1: Moxidectin 1%, G2: Levamisole Phosphate 18.8%, G3: Ivermectin 0.8% + Albendazole Sulfoxide 10%, G4: Albendazole 10%, G5: Fenbendazole 10%, G6: Control (saline solution). Individual weighing was carried out using an electronic scale, at the beginning of the experiment (D0), fourteen days later (D14) and at the end of the experiment (D90), with performance assessed through weight gain (GP). Fecal collections were carried out on the same days as weighing, with individual egg counts per grams of feces (OPG) and stool culture to identify helminth genders. Economic viability was calculated based on the price of the calf and total production cost. The data obtained was subjected to the 5% Tukey test and the effectiveness of the anthelmintics was evaluated using the RESO program. It is concluded that the anthelmintics evaluated were effective, with the exception of Ivermectin 0.8% + Albendazole Sulfoxide 10%, which showed anthelmintic resistance. The anthelmintic treatment provided the animals with better performance, with the greatest weight gain observed in animals treated with Moxidectin 1%, demonstrating better economic indices.