Weight gain and control of endo- and ectoparasites of beef heifers treated with allopathic, herbal and homeopathic drugs.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of herbal, homeopathic and allopathic treatments for parasites in beef heifers during two experimental cycles of 318 and 313 days.


METHODS
NC - negative control (untreated); HH - treated with homeopathic preparation Homeo bovis Parasitário®; PC - (positive control) - treated with 10% moxidectina® and an acaricide formulation of cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and piperonyl butoxide®; HF - treated with homeopathic preparation Fator C&MC®; and FN - treated with neem cake (torta de neem®) and with neem oil (óleo de neem®). Parasite egg count (EPG), horn fly (Haematobia irritans) and tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) assessment and animal weighting were performed at 28-day intervals. Blood samples were collected at the first cycle to assess the immune response. Horn fly infestation was not affected by any treatment (P>0.05). The mean number of ticks, which was low in both cycles, was lower (P<0.05) in the first cycle in animals that received PC treatment. In both experimental cycles, the mean EPG of the PC-treated animals was lower (P<0.05) than the animals receiving other treatments. TREATMENTS had no effect on the immune response (P>0.05). The animals treated with allopathic drugs were 22 to 30 kg heavier (P<0.05) than untreated animals or animals treated with alternative drugs.
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
João Batista
JB
Catto
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Ivo
I
Bianchin
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Gelson Luis Dias
GL
Feijó
Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Flábio Ribeiro
FR
Araújo
Laboratório de Imunologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Laboratório de Imunologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Carlos Alberto do Nascimento
CA
Ramos
Laboratório de Imunologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo GrandeMS, Brasil, Laboratório de Imunologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Ana Beatriz Canevari
AB
Castelão
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain
D008419:Materia Medica; D028321:Plant Preparations