Infestation assessment with Haematobia irritans in grazing cattle and stress behaviors in tropical regions

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the infestation with flies in grazing cattle, and its relationship with some behaviors (tail butting, head butting, kicking and rubbing) that alter animal welfare, through direct observation and use of photographs. At two times (7:00 and 14:00 h) the variables were measured on thirty naturally infested cows and randomly distributed in two treatments: TS: control without deworming and TD: chemically dewormed. The fly infestation were higher (P<0.001) in TS cows (483.7 flies/animal), they also, expressed with greater intensity (P<0.001) and frequency of upset behaviors: tail-tapping (10.84 movements/min), head-butting (1.66), kicking (0.51) and rubbing (0.33) in order to drive away the annoying contact and aggression of the ectoparasite. It is concluded that the greater the fly infestation, the movements that alter the welfare of the animals increase; however, more research is required to know the physiological welfare consequences that the infestation of this parasite implies.