Garlic and papaya lack control over gastrointestinal nematodes in goats and lambs

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) continue to hinder small ruminant production because of anthelmintic resistance and lack of effective products for GIN control in organic production. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a commercially available certified organic garlic product, fresh garlic juice, or garlic bulbs as an anthelmintic to control GIN in goats and papaya seeds for GIN control in lambs. In the first experiment, weaned meat goat kids were administered water or a commercial garlic juice product (n = 7/treatment). In the second experiment, kids were administered water, fresh garlic juice, or fed garlic bulbs (n = 9 or 10/treatment). In a third experiment, lambs were administered nothing or papaya seed in water (n = 12/treatment). Naturally infected goats were supplemented with bermudagrass hay and corn/soybean supplement in the first experiment or maintained on bermudagrass pasture in the second experiment or lambs grazed mixed grasses in the third. Blood and fecal samples were collected on Days 0, 7, and 14 after administration of treatment to examine changes in blood packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC). PCV and FEC were similar by Day 14 between kids treated with a commercial garlic juice and water in the first experiment. Similarly, PCV was not different among treatment groups in the second experiment. FEC of the garlic juice group was lower than the other two groups on Day 0, but was similar among groups by Day 14. Deworming was required in one goat within each treatment group by Day 7 and in three kids in the garlic juice group and two in the garlic bulb group by Day 14. No changes in PCV or FEC were apparent in response to papaya seed compared with untreated lambs. Based on the alternative plant products used in this study, garlic or papaya seed is not recommended as an aid to control GIN in goats or lambs.