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Year 2002 - Volume 22, Number 3
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The hornfly, Haematobia irritans: behaviour and damage caused in Nellore cows and pre-weaning calves, 22(3):109-113
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ABSTRACT.- Bianchin I. & Alves R.G.O. 2002. [The hornfly, Haematobia irritans: behavior and damage caused in Nellore cows and pre-weaning calves.] Mosca-dos-chifres, Haematobia irritans: comportamento e danos em vacas e bezerros Nelore antes da desmama. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 22(3):109-113. Embrapa Gado de Corte, Rodovia BR 262 Km 4, Cx. Postal 154, Campo Grande, MS 79002-970, Brazil.
The hornfly and tosses caused by it in Nellore cows and pre-weaning calves where studied, using two groups of 60 animals each, one group with a natural infestation and the other without hornfly, during four consecutive years. It was seen that the number of flies on the cows did not exceed an average of 80 flies/animal in all years of observation. The majority of the cows (83%) had few flies, whereas 17% had larger numbers. The calves were infested with few flies. Rainfall in excess of 100 mm during short periods diminished fly infestation. Weight gain in the cows without flies (treated with insecticides) as well as their calves was greater than in the control cows, but not statistically significant (P>0.05). Mean percentage pregnancy during the four years was 15% more in treated cows than the non-treated animals, and this difference was probably due to the infestation of the bulls. |
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