ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODOSIS IN TERMS OF MEAT PRODUCTION IN SMALL RUMINANTS OF WEST BENGAL

R. JAS¹*, J.D. GHOSH², S. PANDIT³, D. KUMAR⁴, A. BRAHMA⁵, S. DAS⁶, M. DAS⁷, L. RALTE^8
1Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences; 37, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
²Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
³Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
⁴Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
⁵Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
⁶Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
⁷Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
⁸Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kshudiram Bose Sarani, Kolkata 700 037, India
* Corresponding Author : rumajas@gmail.com

Received : 19-12-2016     Accepted : 14-01-2017     Published : 28-01-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 1       Pages : 834 - 836
Int J Microbiol Res 9.1 (2017):834-836

Keywords : Gastrointestinal nematodes, Economic impact, Meat Production, Small Ruminants
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : All India Network Programme on Gastrointestinal Parasitism funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
Author Contribution : All the authors have been contributed equally to conduct the study and also to prepare the manuscript

Economic impact of the naturally occurring gastrointestinal nematodosis was assessed in terms of meat production in sheep and goats. Both the animals were divided into two equals groups; one group was maintained as nematode free by anthelmintic treatment and the other group was allowed to harbour the parasite. Faecal egg count and body weight of all the animals were recorded at monthly interval for one year. The net loss in terms of rupees was estimated by taking into account of the final mean difference in body weight between the treated and infected groups, dressing percentage, the average rate of mutton (Rs. 350/-) and chevon (Rs. 450/-) in West Bengal and cost of anthelmintic treatment. The mean losses in body weight were 2.183 kg and 2.34 kg in infected sheep and goats, respectively with a per capita loss of 1.091 kg and 1.17 kg, meat production in infected animals. Therefore, the net economic losses due to gastrointestinal nematodosis were Rs. 361.05 and Rs. 512.10 in sheep and goats, respectively after taking in account the cost of anthelmintic.Therefore the strategic use of effective anthelmintic could constitute a viable tool for management of helminthic infection for enhancing the productivity of small ruminants.