Rotational grazing management as a strategy for the integrated epidemiological control of parasites in cattle in Brazil.

The bioeconomy of livestock is influenced by several factors, including parasitic diseases. The occurrence of these diseases is related to factors involving the parasite, the host, the environment and management of the property. This study seeks to assess parasite control in cattle using the Lone Tick rotational grazing system. Cattle were kept in a paddock and were subjected to a rotational management system to test the Lone Tick system for tick and helminth control. A total of 37 male Angus cattle were used in this experiment. The animals were kept in a pasture (paddock) for 28 days and returned after 84 days. Fecal collections for the coproparasitological analysis of gastrointestinal nematodes tick counting, weighing and collection of climatic data were performed every 28 days. The results demonstrated a reduction in fecal egg counts (EPG) throughout the experimental period, although variations were observed among the different evaluation time points. Reduction in the number of ticks and infective larvae of helminths (L3/kg DM) in the pastures, in addition to a continuous increase in weight gain of the animals. The results of the fecal cultures revealed that 53.8% of the larvae were of the genus Haemonchus, followed by 40.4% of the genus Cooperia, and a low abundance of 5.8% of larvae of the genus Oesophagostomum. The results demonstrated that the Lone Tick System promoted the integrated control of gastrointestinal helminths and ticks, even under climatic conditions favorable to parasite development, highlighting its potential as a management strategy for multiple parasite classes.