Economic viability and impact of strategic mass deworming on prevalence of nematode infection in dairy bovine in Mehsana milk shed area, a semi arid region in North Gujarat

Abstract

Retrospective study of 4015 and 7620 randomly collected fecal samples before (Aprll 00 to June 02) and after (July 02 to June 05) adopting strategic mass deworming program showed significant reduction in overall average prevelance of nematodes infection from 16.09 to 2.98%, seasonal prevelance from 10.20, 14.69 and 23.400/0 to 2.73, 2.86 and 3.32% in winter (November-February), summer (March-June) and monsoon (July-October) respectively. Month-wise prevalence ofnematodes infection varied between 1.36 and 5.22% after mass deworming against 8: 10 to 29.39% before mass deworming. Data of milk procured by dairy during the first mass deworming revealed an increase of 5.35% over and above annual trend. Mass deworming as strategic tool was effective in controlling nemetodes infection below pathogenic level at economically viable cost:benefit ratio of more than 1 : 8.