Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions

Grazing management through pasture rotation has been mentioned as a viable alternative for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus; however, there is limited information on rotational grazing at field level. The objectives of this research were (1) to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing with 30...

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Main Authors: Gabriel Cruz-González, Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz, Dora Romero-Salas, Jorge Genaro Vicente-Martínez, Agustín Fernández-Salas, Jesús Jarillo-Rodríguez, Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/7558428
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author Gabriel Cruz-González
Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez
Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz
Dora Romero-Salas
Jorge Genaro Vicente-Martínez
Agustín Fernández-Salas
Jesús Jarillo-Rodríguez
Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos
author_facet Gabriel Cruz-González
Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez
Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz
Dora Romero-Salas
Jorge Genaro Vicente-Martínez
Agustín Fernández-Salas
Jesús Jarillo-Rodríguez
Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos
author_sort Gabriel Cruz-González
collection DOAJ
description Grazing management through pasture rotation has been mentioned as a viable alternative for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus; however, there is limited information on rotational grazing at field level. The objectives of this research were (1) to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing with 30 and 45 days of pasture rest and continuous grazing (without rest) on R. microplus tick loads in Brahman heifers and its most common crosses with Holstein; (2) to know the parasite dynamics of R. microplus under the three grazing systems in the humid tropics of Mexico; and (3) to determine the effect of the treatments on the characteristics of the pastures (availability of forage biomass, plant height, and soil cover). The experiment was carried out for 1 year from April 2022 to March 2023, with three grazing treatments: Treatments 1 and 2 considered rotational grazing with 30 (RT30) and 45 days of rest (RT45), respectively, and Treatment 3 as continuous grazing (CT00). Thirty calves from 8 to 12 months of initial age were distributed in each treatment (n=10). Every 14 days, the number of engorged and semiengorged female ticks in cattle was determined. Concomitantly, the region’s temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were recorded, as well as the agronomic characteristics of the pasture. Rotational grazing animals with 30 days of rest had the highest number of ticks, while grazing animals with 45 days of rest had the least. Tick load dynamics among groups did not correlate with climatic variables (p>0.05). The height and grass cover presented significant changes due to grazing (p<0.05), which could influence the tick cycle by the exposure of the soil, modifying the microclimatic conditions and consequently harming the survival and development of R. microplus in the evaluated systems. The negative effect of rotational grazing on the nonparasitic phase of R. microplus deserves further studies.
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spelling doaj-art-897f44002dcc48b687d2f3769151b08d2025-08-20T02:09:38ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00312024-01-01202410.1155/2024/7558428Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical ConditionsGabriel Cruz-González0Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez1Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz2Dora Romero-Salas3Jorge Genaro Vicente-Martínez4Agustín Fernández-Salas5Jesús Jarillo-Rodríguez6Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos7Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and ZootechnicsFaculty of Veterinary Medicine and ZootechnicsCenter for TeachingFaculty of Veterinary Medicine and ZootechnicsFaculty of Veterinary Medicine and ZootechnicsCenter for TeachingCenter for TeachingCenter for TeachingGrazing management through pasture rotation has been mentioned as a viable alternative for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus; however, there is limited information on rotational grazing at field level. The objectives of this research were (1) to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing with 30 and 45 days of pasture rest and continuous grazing (without rest) on R. microplus tick loads in Brahman heifers and its most common crosses with Holstein; (2) to know the parasite dynamics of R. microplus under the three grazing systems in the humid tropics of Mexico; and (3) to determine the effect of the treatments on the characteristics of the pastures (availability of forage biomass, plant height, and soil cover). The experiment was carried out for 1 year from April 2022 to March 2023, with three grazing treatments: Treatments 1 and 2 considered rotational grazing with 30 (RT30) and 45 days of rest (RT45), respectively, and Treatment 3 as continuous grazing (CT00). Thirty calves from 8 to 12 months of initial age were distributed in each treatment (n=10). Every 14 days, the number of engorged and semiengorged female ticks in cattle was determined. Concomitantly, the region’s temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were recorded, as well as the agronomic characteristics of the pasture. Rotational grazing animals with 30 days of rest had the highest number of ticks, while grazing animals with 45 days of rest had the least. Tick load dynamics among groups did not correlate with climatic variables (p>0.05). The height and grass cover presented significant changes due to grazing (p<0.05), which could influence the tick cycle by the exposure of the soil, modifying the microclimatic conditions and consequently harming the survival and development of R. microplus in the evaluated systems. The negative effect of rotational grazing on the nonparasitic phase of R. microplus deserves further studies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/7558428
spellingShingle Gabriel Cruz-González
Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez
Miguel Ángel Alonso-Díaz
Dora Romero-Salas
Jorge Genaro Vicente-Martínez
Agustín Fernández-Salas
Jesús Jarillo-Rodríguez
Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos
Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
title_full Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
title_fullStr Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
title_short Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
title_sort efficacy of rotational grazing on the control of rhipicephalus microplus infesting calves in humid tropical conditions
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/7558428
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