Gavac: a necessary immunogen
Gloria Machado León 8 agosto, 2017
The tick is considered the external parasite that causes more economic losses in livestock production in Cuba. For several years, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology developed Gavac, an agroecological product for the control of these arthropods in cattle.
However, there are very few peasants who apply it, even though it is in this sector where the largest number of cattle in Matanzas is concentrated, Mayra Rodríguez García, a specialist at the center, reported.
The highly ecological Gavac reduces the tick population in both the animals and the field. In addition, their use decreases the use of chemical cheekbones.
According to the specialist the results look long term and discipline is needed in meeting the program’s basics to achieve success.
The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology trains producers on the use of Gavac and how they can join the Integrated Control Program of the Garrapata, added Mayra Rodríguez García.
Roberto Santana, president of the Cooperativa de Producción Agropecuaria “Ramón Martell”, in the municipality of Limonar, stresses “that his cooperative has been applying the Gavac for 4 years and they are satisfied because they increased milk production and have a lower incidence of patients due to hemoparasites” .
Also in the “17 de Mayo” Credits and Services Cooperative of the municipality of Matanzas, campesino Rodobaldo Díaz García stated that “every morning collected half a cup of adult ticks to the cows, then on the recommendation of a veterinarian began vaccinating with Gavac , But I saw that it remained the same. The doctor recommended waiting, that the effect was not immediate, and so it was, there are almost no ticks on the farm. “
Gavac? Ticks are traditionally controlled with chemical acaricides but their frequent practice has generated resistance both in Cuba and in the world.
Chemicals have the disadvantage that they are effective only in ticks that are on the animal (parasitic phase) and not on those in pastures (free-living phase) that are considered to be 95% of the tick population of a Farm, since a single tick puts an average of 2000 to 4000 eggs. The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology produces the highly ecological Gavac immunogen that reduces the parasite population in animals and in the field. Also, the product lowers the costs for acaricides and medicines, and environmental pollution.
Original text by on Aug 4th, 2017
