[Knowledge levels about some ectoparasites in owners of dairy cattle enterprises in the Kars province of Turkey].

OBJECTIVE

One of the most important problems in the livestock sector in Turkey is the failure to provide the desired yield increase in animal production. In dairy cattle enterprises owner's in Kars province in order to detect their knowledge level about recognition of some ectoparasites and protection methods from them.

METHODS

In this study, a survey was conducted in 26 villages with a total of 92 producers in Kars province.

RESULTS

Producers, participating in the study, are involved with livestock activity average 24.33 years, veterinary and vaccines--drug costs the average annual 161.42 TL for parasitic diseases, and the most common parasitic drug ivermectin was used with the oxfendazole-derived drugs. A total of 78.3% of producers expressed that there were lice, fleas, and ticks over animals, but only 59.8% of them gave the wrong answer to the question of "Lice, fleas, ticks, and mange. Is it a parasite?" The study also showed that among producers who have information about hypoderma infection, only 14.3% of them apply the vaccine /drug at the right time.

CONCLUSION

As a result, producers in the region do not have enough knowledge about parasitic diseases, and irrational drug use was found to be common.