Cattle tick and gastrointestinal nematodes strategic control in dairy 31/32 Gyr x Holstein and beef ½ Brangus: is the same way?

•Different protocols to control both gastrointestinal nematodes and ticks are necessary for crossbred beef and dairy cattle•In a year, eight palliative treatments were necessary against R. microplus in dairy cattle and one for crossbred beef cattle•For helminths, three treatments per year are recommended for dairy and crossbred beef cattle•Periods without anthelmintic treatment can increase Haemonchus in dairy and crossbred cattle•Strategic treatments against gastrointestinal nematodes and ticks resulted in productivity and return on investment Cattle ticks and gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are a major concern in cattle rearing. Strategic treatments with chemical products are used to curb these infestations and infections. There are several studies on the population dynamics and strategic control of these parasites; however, none considered the genetic proportion of dairy cattle (Bos taurus taurus) and beef cattle (crossbred) to establish and understand the best strategy to control these parasites. To establish and understand the best strategy to control these parasites, we evaluated strategic treatment schemes against cattle ticks and GINs in dairy (Bos taurus taurus-Gyr × Holstein, 31/32) and beef (crossbred-1/2 Nellore × 1/2 Angus) cattle with different genetics. To determine whether the adopted strategic control scheme was sufficient to maintain a low level of infestation or infection of cattle ticks and GINs in animals, a group of dairy and crossbred beef cattle received chemical treatment only as a palliative treatment. Concomitantly, the productive and reproductive data of the animals were evaluated. The results showed that the level of challenge by ticks was different in crossbred beef (½ Nellore × ½ Angus) and dairy (Gyr × Holstein 31/32) cattle, and it was necessary to adopt different protocols for strategic or palliative treatments in these animals. Eight palliative treatments against Rhipicephalus microplus for over 12 months were necessary for dairy cattle, while only one was necessary for crossbred beef cattle. Thus, a more suppressive strategic protocol should be established in dairy cattle for monitoring the tick burden because new treatments may be necessary depending on the situation. In contrast, in crossbred beef cattle, an endectocide could be used after weaning, and other treatments must be conditioned to the presence of ticks in cattle. Further, prolonged periods without chemical treatment can increase the proportion of GINs, suc