Management and control of parasites on dairy farms in northwestern region of São Paulo state

Abstract Dairy cattle farming is of great economic and social importance in all Brazilian’s regions. Parasites can reduce milk productivity, especially the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. This study consisted of a questionnaire answered by 40 milk producers in the northwestern region of the State of São Paulo. The aim was to ascertain how these producers controlled ticks and other parasites. Very many of them knew nothing about the biological cycle of the cattle tick or about strategic control or acaricide efficacy tests. The majority (87.5%) controlled ticks at a high frequency, without technical criteria and care to apply the acaricide. Spraying was the most used mode of acaricide application (95%) and endectocides were used by 45%. Cattle tick fever was the harm most associated with ticks (87.5%) followed closely by screwworm (77.5%). However, 65% were satisfied with their tick control. About the control of others parasites, all dewormed at least twice a year their animals; 65% were controlling horn fly; 40% had problems with screwworm. The interviewers had in general good level of education and the farms generally exhibited a high degree of technology for milk production on pasture because half of them received technical assistance frequently.

摘要 奶畜养殖在巴西所有地区均具备重要的经济与社会价值。寄生虫可降低奶牛产奶量，其中尤以微小扇头蜱（Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus）为甚。本研究针对圣保罗州西北部地区的40名奶农开展问卷调查，旨在明确这些奶农对蜱虫及其他寄生虫的防控方式。绝大多数受访者对牛蜱的生物学周期、蜱虫策略性防控以及杀蜱剂（acaricide）药效检测均一无所知。87.5%的受访者采取高频次蜱虫防控措施，但未遵循技术规范，且在杀蜱剂施用过程中疏于规范操作与安全防护。喷雾法是最常用的杀蜱剂施用方式（占比95%），另有45%的受访者使用了体内外驱虫剂（endectocides）。牛蜱热是受访者认知中与蜱虫关联度最高的危害（占比87.5%），紧随其后的是螺旋锥蝇（screwworm）感染（占比77.5%）。但仍有65%的受访者对自身的蜱虫防控措施表示满意。针对其他寄生虫的防控方面，所有奶农每年至少为牲畜驱虫两次；65%的受访者开展了角蝇（horn fly）防控；40%的受访者遭遇过螺旋锥蝇感染问题。受访奶农整体受教育程度良好，且其牧场的放牧奶牛养殖技术水平普遍较高，原因在于半数牧场可定期获得技术援助。