Parasites of the digestive tract in cows managed in alternative (organic and biodynamic) as well as conventional farms in West Pomerania.

The aim of the study was to determine the species composition, prevalence and intensity of parasitic enteric infections in cows in relation to farm management system. Prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and Eimeria protozoans was determined from coproscopic examinations using Willis-Schlaf flotation. The species composition of coccidia was determined from morphological characters and the time of oocyst sporulation. Fluke liver eggs were detected by decantation. The average rates of parasitic infections were 67.42%, in the biodynamic farm, 62.14%, in the organic farms, and 63.26%, in the conventional cattle farm. Cows managed in the biodynamic farm suffered from infections by Eimeria protozoans and gastrointestinal nematodes, whereas Eimeria, gastrointestinal nematodes and Moniezia sp. were found in the organic farms. In cows of the conventional farm, we found Eimeria, gastrointestinal nematodes, Moniezia sp. and trematodes: Fasciola hepatica and Paramphistomum sp. The average intensity of Eimeria sp. infection in cows by farming system was as follows: 71 OPG (oocysts per gram of feces) in the biodynamic farm, 57 OPG in the organic farm and 71 OPG in the conventional farm. The mean intensity of gastrointestinal parasites was 290 EPG (eggs per gram feces) in the biodynamic farm, 455 EPG in the organic farm, and 228 EPG in the conventional farm. The average Moniezia infection intensity in cows was 125 EPG, in the organic farm, and 50 EPG (eggs per gram feces), in the conventional farm. It is noteworthy that the intensity of gastrointestinal nematode infection of cows in the biodynamic farm was very low (290 EPG) despite a high prevalence of infection (67.42%). A similar situation though was found in the cows managed in the conventional way.