RETURNS FROM STRATEGIC ANTHELMINTIC TREATMENTS IN VILLAGE CATTLE IN THE GAMBIA

A large-scale study was undertaken to investigate the effects of two s ystematic anthelmintic treatments on village cattle productivity in th e Gambia. Treated animals had significantly higher performance in term s of live weights and age at first calving, but the mortality rate of 0- to 1-yr-old cattle appeared to be negatively affected. These result s and financial data on treatment costs were used in a herd simulation model to assess the profitability of the intervention. Treatment was profitable on average, but the risks of losing money were large and av erage returns were sensitive to various hypotheses examined. The treat ment regimen studied can only be recommended in certain herds and furt her research is needed to identify the factors determining the negativ e response in other herds. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.