Economic Importance Of Parasites

Overview

A goat that is never once diagnosed with a disease can still quietly cost its owner more than a sick one. A worm burden that never kills anything slows growth, thins milk yield, and scars a hide that would otherwise fetch a premium price, week after week, without a single dramatic symptom to give it away. Parasites are the patient thief of animal production, and the only way to see how much they steal is to put a naira figure on the theft.

In this lesson you will learn to price out what a parasite burden actually costs: the weight gain it takes off an animal, the milk or eggs it removes from output, the dewormers and acaricides a farmer must keep buying to hold it back, and the hide or carcass value it strips away at sale. You will then scale that farm-level arithmetic up to see why parasites are treated as a threat to Nigeria's food security and export earnings, not just to one herd.

Objectives

  1. Explain the economic importance of parasites to animal production
  2. State the losses caused by parasites to farm animals
  3. Explain the effect of parasites on the quality of animal products
  4. Explain the effect of parasites on national food security
  5. Suggest ways of minimising the economic impact of parasites

Lesson Note

A sheep farmer near Gusau checks his flock every morning, and every animal is alive and walking. He assumes all is well. What he cannot see, because it produces no dead body and no obvious wound, is that a worm burden has been quietly cutting his lambs' weekly weight gain for two months. Parasites rarely announce their economic cost. A farmer who cannot put a naira figure on that cost will always under-invest in stopping it.

Lesson Evaluation

Congratulations on completing the lesson on Economic Importance Of Parasites. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.

You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

  1. A dewormed group of animals converts feed to weight gain more efficiently than a worm-infested group on the same ration. This is best described as a loss in: A. Product downgrading B. Feed conversion efficiency C. Carcass condemnation D. Fertility Answer: B
  2. A hide scarred by tick and mange damage grades lower and sells for less than an undamaged hide of the same size. This economic effect of parasites is best described as: A. Reduced weight gain B. Product downgrading C. Reduced milk yield D. Treatment cost Answer: B
  3. A flock of 25 sheep gains 3.0 kg per week when healthy but only 1.8 kg per week under a heavy worm burden. If live weight sells at 1,500 naira per kg, what is the naira value of ONE week's weight-gain loss for the whole flock? A. 18,000 naira B. 30,000 naira C. 45,000 naira D. 75,000 naira Answer: C
  4. Which of the following is a recurring economic cost of parasite control, rather than a loss caused directly by the parasite itself? A. Reduced egg output B. Carcass condemnation C. Money spent on dewormers and acaricides D. Hide downgrading Answer: C
  5. In Nigeria, a blood parasite spread by the tsetse fly has made large areas of grazing land in the Middle Belt unsuitable for many cattle breeds. This parasite disease is: A. Coccidiosis B. Trypanosomiasis C. Fascioliasis D. Newcastle disease Answer: B

Recommended Books

Introduction to Animal Science: Global, Biological, Social and Industry Perspectives
Introduction to Animal Science: Global, Biological, Social and Industry Perspectives
Subtitle: Sixth edition
Publisher: Pearson
Year: 2017
ISBN: 978-0-13-443605-0
Description: A comprehensive introduction to animal science covering anatomy and physiology, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, animal health and the major farm animal species and their production systems.
Small-scale Poultry Production: Technical Guide
Small-scale Poultry Production: Technical Guide
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Year: 2004
ISBN: 978-92-5-105082-8
Description: An FAO Animal Production and Health Paper written by a Nigerian animal scientist, covering breeds, housing, feeding, incubation, disease control and marketing for small-scale poultry keepers in developing countries.
Tropical Animal Feeding: A Manual for Research Workers
Tropical Animal Feeding: A Manual for Research Workers
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Year: 1995
ISBN: 978-92-5-103758-4
Description: An FAO Animal Production and Health Paper on the principles of ruminant and non-ruminant nutrition and the practical use of tropical feed resources, including crop residues and by-products, in sustainable livestock systems.

Past Questions

Wondering what past questions for this topic looks like? Here are a number of questions about Economic Importance Of Parasites from previous years

WAEC SSCE - Animal Husbandry - 2016

Question 1 Report

TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION


(a) Stat three ways in which specimen A (Tapeworm) is of economic importance.

(b) State four ways of controlling specimen A

(c) List three nutrients contained in specimen B (Fish meal)

(d) Name two ectoparasites that could infest the farm animal from which specimen C (Hide of cattle) was obtained.

(e) Mention three uses of specimen C 

View Answer