Impacto económico de la oestrosis en rebaños ovinos de Cuba

The aim of this work was to assess the economic impact of oestrosis in the Cuban sheep herds affected. A data set of oestrosis outbreaks during six years (2006-2011) regarding relative mortality and prevalence was used for assessing disease loss. The direct disease cost exceeded a million of the local currency (pesos) on a susceptible population of 139 536 sheep. The cost opportunity for fighting or either controlling oestrosis was considered beneficial, because the antiparasitic price was lower concerning 7 pesos/sheep as disease impact. The Cuban sheep raising is mainly for meat production. As a consequence of the disease, there is a loss of 472 kg of sheep live weight/thousand susceptible animals.