Supporting the breeders for the ecosensible management of parasitism

Many projects and studies have confirmed the impact of the anti-parasite treatments on coprophagous insects: even at a low dose, some molecules traditionally used (ivermectin, doramectin, etc.) keep their insecticidal properties in cattle dung, thus inducing a risk of intoxication for coprophagous insects. The period for eliminating the impact of said molecules may last long, from 10 to 150 days, according to the route of administration (intramuscular, oral).

Furthermore, coprophagous insects are an important part of the diet of many bird or bat species that are, for some, of community importance, such as the great rhinolophe or the lesser mouse-eared bat. These species not only suffer from the disappearance of their prey, but also from the bioaccumulation of toxins.

Besides their part in the food chain, coprophagous insects are essential ecosystem players. Responsable for the decay of dung, they increase the quality of the soil and limit the survival of the parasites found in feces by either competing or transporting dust mites that feed on nematodes and fly larvae.

It is therefore necessary to support breeders, equestrian centres and other “rentable” cattle or animal owners in order to decrease or even eliminate the negative impact of anti-parasite treatments on the ecosystems and flag species using an integrated approach.

• An analysis of practices related to the anti-parasite management shall be carried out with the breeders willing to do so. It shall firstly include a precise vet audit, based on a coprological study, and secondly an eco-grazing cross-analysis based on breeding and grazing practices shall be carried out by the SMGG, the Occitanian Natural Spaces Conservatory and the Chamber of Agriculture of the Gard.
• An individualised action plan shall be suggested to the breeders. It shall be built around the following triptych: preventive strategies and strengthening of the animals’ premunition, reducing the impact of the curative treatments, methods other than synthetic deworming.
• The breeders shall benefit from regular monitoring for the whole length of the project.
• Visits of the farms having put into place a reasonable parasitic risk management shall be organised with the breeders willing to do so.
• Meetings open to the public shall equally be organised to allow the breeders to express themselves and favour both the sharing of experiences and the spreading of good practices.