Método FAMACHA©, escore de condição corporal e contagem de ovos de estrongilídeos por grama de fezes como indicadores de carga parasitária em ovelhas gestantes

Abstract

Sheep farming for meat production in Brazil has shown great economic potential; however, it faces challenges regarding the control of gastrointestinal parasites, which negatively affect the development and productivity of this livestock sector. The indiscriminate use of anthelmintics has led to increased parasite resistance, compromising the sustainability of sheep farming. One way to reduce the rate at which anthelmintic resistance develops is through the correct and precise identification of animals that are truly parasitized, allowing treatment to be directed only toward those that actually need it. However, it is essential to identify which zootechnical indicators can be used for this purpose. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of combining the FAMACHA© method and body condition score (BCS) as indicators for assessing parasite load in pregnant ewes, by correlating these indicators with fecal egg counts (FEC) of the animals. The study was conducted at the Capim Branco Experimental Farm of the Federal University of Uberlândia, using 41 pregnant crossbred ewes (Dorper × Santa Inês). Monthly evaluations were carried out from March to July 2025, during which the FAMACHA© score, BCS, and fecal samples for FEC analysis were collected. Data were statistically analyzed using the SNK (Student–Newman–Keuls) and Kruskal–Wallis tests for monthly mean comparisons. During gestation, a single parasitic peak was observed in the fourth month of evaluation, with an FEC of 6,500 eggs per gram of feces. The results showed significant correlations among the indicators: the FAMACHA© score exhibited a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.3601) with FEC, while the BCS showed a moderate negative correlation (r = –0.2148) with FEC. These findings demonstrate that the combined use of these indicators provides a more precise and rational approach to parasite control. It is concluded that the association of these methods is an effective strategy to improve the accuracy of clinical assessments, contributing to the precise identification of parasite load, and to the reduction of both anthelmintic resistance and the indiscriminate use of drugs.