Economic feasibility of the association of antihelmintic drugs and cattle performance in confinement system

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of anti-helminthic treatment and its economic viability on the performance of confined nelore steers. The experiment was conducted with 80 steers aged 24 months, in the finishing phase, with an average initial weight of 401.7 kg, randomly distributed into four experimental groups: G1 (Levamisole), G2 (Doramectin), G3 (Levamisole + Doramectin), and G4 (control, saline solution). The experimental period lasted 92 days, and the diet consisted of 85% whole corn and 15% pelleted concentrate. To assess the efficacy of the treatments, parasitological analyses were performed, including the egg count per gram of feces (EPG) and coproculture. Productive performance was evaluated through weight gain (WG) and daily weight gain (DWG). The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test, with 5% significance, using SISVAR. The results showed no significant difference in the average EPG between the groups (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the anti-helminthic treatment had no impact on the performance of the steers, both in the treated groups and the control group. The presence of helminths, even with a parasitic load, did not affect the performance of the untreated group, possibly due to nutritional adequacy. Greater profitability and return were observed in the treatment with 0.5% Doramectin + 18.8% Levamisole, followed by the group treated with 15% Levamisole Phosphate and 1% Doramectin. It was also observed that the control group (without anti-helminthic use) showed profitability, though lower than the other treated animals.