Parasitic management of the cord of destete in a natural field

III Rotating-alternating grazing with cattle in a surface basalt area

Abstract

A total of 2.560 Australian Merino lambs with a mean age of 4 months, were weaned in a rotative-alternate system with 265 bovines older than two years. During the experimental period (January-July), lambs rotated every seven days in twelve paddocks, in such a way that when the every seven deys in twelve paddocks, in such a way that when the sheepfold entered each paddock, pastures had been 77 days without ovines and had had an intermediete grazing of bovines. The parameters of weight increment and evolution, elimination of eggs in feaces and relative composition of nemetodes in the sheepfold were studied through a control group (n = 120), which accompanied ovine rotation and received the same anthelmitic treatments (ABZ) at weaning time and (ClT) in April. Two additional groups of n = 30 each, were rotating simultaneously with the sheepfold as positive control of infestation (without dosification) and negative control (dosification every 14 days). Rotative-alternate grazing with bovine resistent categories allowed to add its effects to that of grazings rest, leaving paddocks free of contamination with ovine feaces for a period of around 2.5 months. This allowed the management of 2.500 lambs in a low parasitary risk situation, without affecting their weight gain. The use of anthelmintics of different characteristics showed to be efficient when complemented with management measures.