RESUMEN
Gastrointestinal nematode infections were evaluated in Santa Inês crossbreed sheep (Santa Inês predominance) in a rotational grazing system and in lambs kept indoors, born from the breeding of these females with purebred Santa Ines, Dorper and Suffolk males. Fecal egg counts (FEC), fecal cultures, packed cell volume (PCV) and weights were evaluated during two years. Climate data were registered. Only animals that presented FEC higher than 4,000 and/or PCV lower than 21% were drenched with anthelmintic treatment and this rational use controlled the infection in the flock satisfactorily. An adequate diet during the rainy season and supplementation in dry period were important to increase relative resistance and resilience to parasites, since Haemonchus contortus was detected year-round in this region. The peripartum physiological condition influenced gastrointestinal nematode infections significantly. Crossbred (1/2) Santa Inês + (1/2) Dorper lambs did not show a significant difference in FEC when compared with other breeds, but they had greater live weight and reached slaughter weight earlier.
