Manejo das populações canina e felina em propriedades rurais: desafios e estratégias na gestão em fazenda de ensino

Abstract

The ethical population management of dogs and cats poses many challenges, even in rural environments, while seeking to preserve and balance animal, environmental, and human health. This study was conducted at the "Fazenda Experimental Professor Hélio Barbosa" in Igarapé, Minas Gerais, a university campus belonging to Federal University of Minas Gerais. The increase in cats on the farm, especially in animal production areas such as dairy cattle farming, led to flea infestations among the cattle and in poultry farming, entering spaces designated for egg storage. The entry of dogs with employee owners and the increase in abandonment resulted in issues between these dogs and production animals. Between 2021 and 2024, various intervention actions were implemented, including population censuses, surgically sterilized, vaccination, and education on responsible pet ownership. The introduction of proper management aimed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among animals through control and treatment, as well as to address the growing population of dogs and cats, mainly due to abandonment. Joint efforts between the university, its collaborators, and public administration were essential to obtain an integrated management plan, that aims not only at animal health but also at improving the quality of life on university campuses, serving as a reference for other Teaching Farms in future studies.