Cost Benefit Analysis of Anthelmintic Treatment of
Cattle and Buffaloes
Laiq Ahmed Athar, Muhammad Nisar Khan*, Muhammad
Sohail Sajid, Tauseef-ur-Rehman and Izhar Ahmad Khan1
Department of Parasitology, 1Department
of Rural Sociology,
University of
Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: khanuaf@yahoo.com
Abstract
A study was carried out to determine the point
prevalence of various helminths of cattle and buffalo population of district
Toba Tek Singh,
Pakistan and economic benefits of deworming with Oxyclozanide.
Out of 540 fecal samples examined, 205 (37.96%) were found infected with
helminths. Significantly higher (OR=2.2; P<0.05) prevalence of helminths was
recorded in buffaloes (40%; 112/280) as compared to cattle (35.77%; 93/260).
Oesophagostomum, Cooperia,
Trichostrongylus, Strongyloide, Ostertagia, Fasciola (F.) hepatica, F. gigantica
and Haemonchus contortus were the
helminth species identified in the study area. Oxyclozanide medicated buffaloes
(E=96.66%) and cattle (E=95.64%) showed a significant decrease in fecal egg
counts on day 14 post-treatment. An average daily increase of 0.89 and 0.71 liters of milk along with 0.42 and 0.37% more fat per buffalo
and cattle, respectively was observed in Oxyclozanide medication. The economic
value of reduced production of infected animals was estimated as US$ 0.47 (Pak
Rupees 40) and US$ 0.41 (Pak Rupees 35) per animal per day
for cattle and buffaloes, respectively. It can be concluded that single dose of
Oxyclozanide is effective against all bovine helminths.