Evaluation of the treatment of beef cattle for gastrointestinal nematodes under extensive conditions, by means of salt medicated with fenbendazole

Abstract

In three experiments, salt medicated with fenbendazole was offered to Nelore-type beef cattle under extensive conditions. In the first experiment, where the animals probably had access to a natural source of salt, the uptake of the product was inadequate. In the other experiments, although there was a decline in the uptake of the medicated product compared to that of common salt measured previously, all the product was consumed within the Limits set by the manufacturer (72 and 52 hours, respectively). In the second experiment, all of 42 animals were negative for eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and larval cultures. In the third experiment, 22 of 400 animals (5.6%) remained positive after treatment: the general reduction in the EPG count was 91.11%. Some consequences of these results for the use of medicated salt under extensive conditions are discussed.