Effect of urea-molasses block supplementation on grazing weaner goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

The influence of feeding urea-molasses blocks (UMB) on growth and gastrointestinal (GI) nematode parasitism of weaner goats grazing the same pasture was investigated on a farm in Nyandarua District, Kenya. Thirty female Small East African goat kids at an average age of 5 months were initially treated with albendazole orally (5 mg kg(-1) body mass) and randomly assigned into one of two groups: group I were fed UMB prepared using a cold process and group II kids (controls) received no block supplementation (NBS). The UMB were given in the evening when the animals returned from grazing and were consumed during the night at a rate of 95.0 g head(-1) day(-1). Supplementation was undertaken for 3 consecutive months from July to September 2001 and January to March 2002. Body mass of the kids and faecal egg counts were measured monthly and larval cultures were performed on positive faecal samples of kids of each group. Five goats from each group were randomly selected for slaughter and total counts and identification of worms at the end of June 2002. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in cumulative mass gains of kids in group I from September compared with those in group II. On termination of the study kids in group I had gained an average of (+/- SD) 20.4 +/- 1.4 kg while those in group II had gained 11.8 +/- 1.1 kg. From January 2002, faecal egg counts of the kids in the UMB group differed significantly (P < 0.05) from those of the NBS group and at slaughter, the mean (+/- SD) worm counts for the UMB group was 482 +/- 299 while that of the NBS group was 1 302 +/- 410. In all the goats, Haemonchus contortus was the predominant nematode recovered. These results indicate that UMB had significant effects in the control of GI nematode parasitism and enhanced growth of the young goats.     

Controlled trials of the anthelmintic oxfendazole in ewes and lambs naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

Oxfendazole doses at a rate of 5 mg per kg, before or after lambing, reduced nematode egg output to insignificant levels in ewes, most of which were not exposed to re-infection. Ewes treated with oxfendazole had a significantly lower egg output than those treated with levamisole, although the latter anthelmintic was also highly effective. In lambs, oxfendazole at a dose rate of 5 mg per kg, showed 100 per cent efficacy for Ostertagia circumcincta, O trifurcata, Teledorsagia davtiani, Trichostrongylus axei, T vitrinus, T colubriformis, Nematodirus battus, N filicollis, immature Nematodirus, Chabertia ovina, and 93 per cent efficacy for Trichuris spp. Levamisole showed similar efficacies but did not remove Trichuris.     

Effect of feeding urea-molasses blocks with incorporated fenbendazole on grazing dairy heifers naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

Between June 1999 and August 2000, the effects of feeding medicated urea-molasses supplement blocks on the growth of dairy heifers in a marginal area of central Kenya were assessed by comparing the live-weight gain of supplemented and unsupplemented heifers grazing the same pasture. Thirty-nine heifers with an average age of 9.6 months were initially treated orally with albendazole (10 mg/kg body weight) and assigned to 3 groups: group I was fed urea-molasses blocks with incorporated fenbendazole (MUMB), group II was fed urea-molasses blocks (UMB) and group III heifers (control) received no block supplementation (NBS). Body weights of the heifers and faecal egg counts (FECs) were measured monthly and larval cultures were made of positive faecal samples of each group. The mean cumulative live-weight responses of the MUMB and UMB groups were significantly greater than the NBS group (P < 0.05). However, at the end of the experimental period, the mean weight gain of the MUMB group did not differ from that of the UMB group (P > 0.05). The FECs were moderate to low in all groups and decreased progressively with increasing age of the animals; FECs for the urea-molasses-supplemented groups remained significantly lower than those of the NBS group throughout the experimental period (P < 0.05). Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus were the predominant nematode genera found in the heifers, but Cooperia, Bunostomum and Oesophagostomum were also present. These results indicate that feeding of urea-molasses blocks substantially reduced production losses attributable to nematode infection of young grazing cattle, and confirms previous observations that well-fed animals are better able to overcome the effects of helminth infections.     

Appetite, digestive efficiency, feed utilization and carcass evaluation of housed calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

The progress of two groups of 10 calves, which had previously been exposed to trichostrongyle infections by grazing infected pastures, was monitored from housing in October to slaughter the following April. Each of the animals of one group had received a morantel sustained release bolus, the other control group remained untreated. The high faecal egg counts and serum pepsinogen concentrations, together with the clinical signs of ostertagiosis observed in the controls in October, persisted during the first month of housing but improved thereafter. From late November onwards, no difference in feed intake and digestive efficiency was observed between the groups. The control calves exhibited a significantly greater feed conversion efficiency over the period February-April, (7.5 vs. 12.3 kg feed kg-1 liveweight gain, P less than 0.001). This reduced the liveweight advantage of the MSRB group over the controls at housing to 25 kg.     

The anthelmintic efficacy of netobimin against naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep

The broad-spectrum anthelmintic efficacy of netobimin (SCH 32481, Schering Corporation) was evaluated using 30 cross-bred spring lambs with naturally acquired infections of gastrointestinal nematodes. Three groups of 10 animals each were allotted into either control (given a tap water drench as a placebo) or 7.5 and 20 mg kg-1 dosage groups (given the netobimin as an oral drench). Seven to fourteen days post-treatment, animals were necropsied and nematodes recovered by standard techniques. Examination of fecal samples taken on dates of necropsy showed median egg production was reduced in treated animals (61.98% with 7.5 mg kg-1 and 100% with 20 mg kg-1). The compound was highly effective in removal of adult nematodes representing a number of genera and species of trichostrongyloids at the 7.5 and 20 mg kg-1 dose levels (shown, respectively, below). These included Ostertagia spp., with O. circumcincta, O. trifurcata, O. ostertagi and Teladorsagia davtiani (96.20%; 100%), Trichostrongylus spp., with T. axei, T. vitrinus and T. colubriformis (100%; 98.72%), Nematodirus spp., with N. spathiger, N. filicollis and N. battus (100% both levels) and Haemonchus contortus (100% both levels). High efficacies against other species of nematodes (at both dose levels) were not statistically significant (Cooperia spp., Chabertia ovina and Oesophagostomum venulosum). At 20 mg kg-1, netobimin significantly reduced populations of early and late fourth stage larvae of Ostertagia spp. by 100%. The overall efficacy (all life stages included) was 90.16% at 7.5 mg kg-1 and 98.77% at 20 mg kg-1 dose levels. No adverse reactions or signs of toxicosis were observed.     

Effectiveness of grazing management in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in weaner lambs on pasture in Denmark.

A dose and move to clean pasture strategy for nematode control in weaner sheep was compared to a move only strategy. Sixteen ewes with twin lambs (2-3 weeks old) were turned out on infected pasture on 4 May 1999. On 1 July, the lambs were allocated to four groups of eight and weaned on to clean pasture. Two groups (DM1+2) were treated with anthelmintics, while the other two (M1+2) were not treated. Each group was allocated to a separate paddock and set stocked until 27 September when all the animals were slaughtered to perform worm counts.Moving the weaned lambs to clean pasture reduced the faecal egg counts to less than one third within 4 weeks while the treatment reduced it to zero for 4 weeks. Faecal egg counts of the dose and move groups remained significantly lower for 6 weeks (P<0.0001) after moving to the clean pasture. After this period the differences were not significant as the dose and move groups started shedding eggs in faeces. The pasture infectivity was lower in the paddocks grazed by groups (DM1+2). The weight gains and the serum albumin levels were comparable in all four groups. O. circumcinta and Trichostrongylus vitrinus were the major species recovered. The total worm counts were significantly lower in (DM1+2) compared to M1+2, particularly the mean counts in the small intestines (T. vitrinus) (P<0.01). It was concluded that weaning lambs at the beginning of July and moving them before the expected mid-summer rise in herbage infection to a clean pasture will prevent parasitic gastroenteritis and achieve good production whether the move is accompanied by anthelmintic treatment or not. The effects will be subject to prevailing nematode species, local climatic conditions and length of the grazing season.     

Influence of protein supplementation on the resistance and resilience on young hair sheep naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes during rainy and dry seasons

Thirty, 4-month-old entire Santa Ines lambs were grazed on an Andropogon gayanus pasture, during a 34-week period (rainy season weeks 0-20 and dry season weeks 21-34) and allocated in two treatment groups (n = 15) each with different protein supplementation: high protein (HP-19% CP) and low protein (LP-11% CP). These were subdivided into those receiving anthelmintic treatment (c) (n = 7) and without anthelmintic treatment (i) (n = 8). The objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with protein on resistance and resilience to natural helminth infection of hair breed lambs. Lamb weight, blood collection and faecal egg counts (FEC) were carried out monthly. The lambs were slaughtered after 34 weeks, when worm burdens, worm length and eosinophil cell counts were taken. The sheep on treatments HPc and HPi were heavier in live weight than those from LPi and LPc (P < 0.05) at the end of the rainy period. The HPc group finished heavier (P < 0.05) than the other groups in the dry season, which had no significant differences between them. The predominant species of nematode found was T. colubriformis followed by H. contortus, Trichuris globulosa and Moniezia expansa. Animals on HPi had lower FEC than LPi (P < 0.05). The number of worms was lower for both HP groups (P < 0.05) with worm length shorter in the HPc group (P < 0.05) compared with all other groups. The number of eosinophils was higher in animals in the LPi group, which also showed anaemia and lower plasma urea at the end of the dry season. Diet supplementation with high protein was able to improve resilience and resistance to natural infection by endoparasites during the rainy season. In the dry season there was a decrease in both of these traits, which were intimately linked to the quality of available forage under tropical conditions.     

Effects of strategic anthelmintic treatments on the milk production of dairy sheep naturally infected by gastrointestinal strongyles

The present paper was aimed at assessing the benefit of strategic anthelmintic treatments on milk production in four commercial dairy sheep farms in Southern Italy whose animals were naturally infected by gastrointestinal (GI) strongyles and Dicrocoelium dendriticum. The scheme was based on two treatments timed in relationship to parturition, i.e. the first with moxidectin in the periparturient period and the second with netobimin at the mid/end of lactation. On each farm, two similar groups (20 animals each) were formed, one untreated control group and one group treated according to the above-mentioned scheme. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed on each study animal at the start of the trial and then monthly until the end of the study; in addition, milk production was recorded for each animal fortnightly in each farm for the lactation period. The results showed a significant increase in milk yield across all four farms that ranged from 19% to 44% improvement in milk yield. The benefit in milk yield in addition to considerably reduced egg output of the treated animals provide clear evidence that the two main aims of prophylactic parasite control, i.e. to maintain or improve animal performance and to reduce pasture contamination, can be achieved using strategic anthelmintic treatments.     

Effects of grazing undrenched weaner deer on chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture on the viability of gastrointestinal nematodes and lungworms

This study determined the in vitro effects on the viability of internal parasites of grazing undrenched weaner deer on either chicory (Cichorium intybus) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture. One experiment investigated the hatching and development of gastrointestinal nematode eggs and larvae, and the development and motility of L1 lungworm (Dictyocaulus eckerti) larvae, and a second experiment used larval migration inhibition assays to test the viability of L1 lungworm larvae extracted from the faeces of weaner deer grazed on either chicory or pasture when they were incubated with rumen and abomasal fluids from fistulated deer also grazing on chicory or pasture. The incubations were undertaken with and without added condensed tannins purified from chicory and with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG) to bind the tannins. Chicory had no effect on the hatching and development of gastrointestinal nematode eggs and larvae. Grazing chicory reduced the number of lungworm larvae developing to the L3 stage, and L1 lungworm larvae from the faeces of chicory-grazed deer were less viable in rumen and abomasal fluid than larvae from pasture-grazed animals. Abomasal fluid was significantly (P < 0.001) less inhibitory to the migration of L1 lungworms than rumen fluid. When the larvae were incubated in rumen and abomasal fluids from chicory-grazed deer, their passage through sieves was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in comparison with when they were incubated in the fluids from pasture-grazed deer Adding condensed tannins to rumen fluid increased the inhibition of the migration of L1 lungworm larvae but PEG removed this inhibition; this effect was not observed with abomasal fluid.     

Effects of the repeated distribution of sainfoin hay on the resistance and the resilience of goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

Due to the high prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in goats, the need to explore novel approaches to control nematodes and to reduce the exclusive reliance on chemotherapy is strongly demanded in this host species. In sheep, several studies have shown that the consumption of tannin-rich legume forages was associated with positive effects on host resilience and resistance to parasite infection. In goats, studies on such interactions between tanniferous plants and nematode infections remain few. The objectives of the current study were to examine under natural conditions the effects of consumption of sainfoin hay by goats on the parasite populations and on host resilience. Eighteen adult cull goats naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were used in the study. At the start of the assay, the goats were allocated into two groups, balanced according to weight and the levels of egg excretion. The two groups grazed separate pastures for 3 months with similar stocking rates. Goats from group S received each month indoors, for 7 days, sainfoin hay and control goats (group C) received hay of ryegrass. The diets in both groups were made isoenergetic and isoproteic and the refusals measured. Individual parasitological and pathophysiological measurements were performed fortnightly in order to compare host resistance and resilience. At the end of the study, five goats per group were necropsied. The distribution of sainfoin was associated with: (1) a higher consumption of hay; (2) significant, lower levels of nematode egg excretion which was associated with a decrease in worm fertility but no change in worm population; however, the number of intestinal worms was reduced by 50% in group S; (3) a better host resilience. In particular, after 2 months of grazing, two control goats died and half of the remaining animals needed to be treated whereas this was not the case in group S. These differences were related to significant changes in pepsinogen and phosphate values (PCV) but not in pepsinogen and phosphate concentrations. These results demonstrate that a repeated distribution of sainfoin hay to grazing goats might be beneficial in regard of pasture contamination and host resilience. They suggest that administration of sainfoin hay might represent a valuable alternative and adjunct to reduce nematode infections in dairy goat flock.     

Preventive anthelmintic treatment of grazing young cattle via supplementary feed and drinking water

Twenty-six first season calves were allocated into four groups which were turned out on May 21 to graze separate permanent pastures. One group (group A) remained untreated. The others were treated each month with albendazole either as an oral drench (group B) through supplementary feed (group C) or through the drinking water (group D). Neither clinical disease nor weight gain depressions were observed in any group. Although the infection levels were low, the faecal excretion of trichostrongylus eggs, the serum pepsinogen activities and the pasture larval contamination all indicated a marked reduction in the levels of infection of groups B, C and D. The serum pepsinogen activities of groups B and C were similar and remained below 1 unit of tyrosine/litre of serum whereas that of group D was intermediate between these two groups and group A. The labour saving principle which was applied to group C is recommended under conditions similar to those of the present experiment.     

The effects of feeding sericea lespedeza hay on growth rate of goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

Goat production is increasing in the United States due to high ethnic demand, but infection with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites is a major constraint to the industry. Increasing GIN resistance to chemical anthelmintics worldwide has led to the development of alternative control strategies, including use of forages containing condensed tannins (CT). An experiment was designed using infected and dewormed male kids (Kiko x Spanish, 6 mo old, 18.9 +/- 3.25 kg) fed diets containing 25% concentrate and either 75% sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don], a high CT forage (87 to 181 g of CT/kg), or 75% bermudagrass [BG; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay (n = 10/treatment). The kids were weighed every 14 d, and fecal and blood samples were taken weekly for fecal egg counts and packed cell volume determination, respectively. Fecal cultures were processed every 14 d to determine CT effect on larval development. At slaughter, adult GIN were collected from the abomasum and small intestines for counting and speciation. Blood samples were also analyzed for plasma urea-N, and ruminal VFA and pH were determined. The infected SL-fed kids had consistently lower (P < 0.05) fecal egg counts than the infected BG goats throughout the trial and greater (P < 0.05) packed cell volume beginning by d 77. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) in kids fed SL- than BG-based diets, regardless of infection status (104.3 +/- 5.0 and 75.5 +/- 4.8 g/d, respectively). Total VFA and acetate concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in the BG- than in SL-fed goats, whereas propionate levels were unaffected by diet. Acetate:propionate ratio (P = 0.01) and plasma urea-N (P = 0.03) levels were greater in BG-fed goats, whereas rumen pH was greater (P < 0.001) in the SL-fed goats. Feeding SL hay can reduce GIN infection levels and increase performance of goats compared with BG hay.     

Efficacy of a single high oxfendazole dose against gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected pigs

The goal of the current experiment was to assess the clinical efficacy of oxfendazole (OFZ) administered as a single oral dose (30 mg/kg) to pigs naturally parasitized with Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum spp., Metastrongylus spp. and Trichuris suis. Thirty-six local ecotype piglets were divided into three independent experiments, named I, II and III (n = 12 each), respectively. Each experiment involved two different groups (n = 6): Untreated Control and OFZ treated. Animals were naturally parasitized with A. suum (Experiments I, II and III), Oesophagostomum spp. (Experiments I and II), T. suis (Experiments II and III) and Metastrongylus spp. (Experiment I). Pigs in the treated group received OFZ (Synanthic^®, Merial Ltd., 9.06% suspension) orally at 30 mg/kg dose. At five (5) days post-treatment, animals were sacrificed and the clinical efficacy of the OFZ treatment was established following the currently available WAAVP guidelines for a controlled efficacy test. None of the animals involved in this experiment showed any adverse events during the study. OFZ treatment given as a single 30 mg/kg oral dose showed a 100% efficacy against all the nematode parasites present in the three experiments. In conclusion, under the current experimental conditions, OFZ orally administered to naturally parasitized piglets at a single dose of 30 mg/kg was safe and highly efficacious (100%) against adult stages of A. suum, Oesophagostomum spp., T. suis and Metastrongylus spp.     

Distribution and repeatability of faecal egg counts and blood parameters in dairy goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes

The frequency, distribution and repeatability of measurements related to infection with gastrointestinal nematodes have been estimated in dairy goats. Monthly faecal and blood samples were taken over two grazing seasons from a flock of 120 naturally infected goats. The frequency distribution of egg excretion was positively skewed at each sampling date, suggesting an aggregative distribution of parasites. Overdispersed distributions were also apparent for pepsinogen and inorganic phosphate values. Repeatabilities for each parameter were estimated within each year. The values ranged between 0.23 to 0.43 and were relatively similar during the 2 years, with the highest coefficients recorded for pepsinogen. For each parameter, moderate to high repeatabilities were also estimated between the 2 years. Overall, the data suggest that, in dairy goats, the distribution of worms is overdispersed with a few individuals repeatedly harbouring large worm populations. These results have practical implications for genetic selection for resistance to worm infection and for selective administration of anthelmintics.     

Undegradable intake protein supplementation of compensating spring-born steers and summer-born steers during summer grazing

Three trials were conducted to determine the effects of previous winter gain (Trials 1 and 3) and age of calf (Trials 1 and 2) on response to undegradable intake protein (UIP) supplementation during summer grazing. In Trial 1, 48 spring-born steers (243 kg) were used in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement. Steers were wintered at four rates of gain: 0.65 (FAST), 0.24 (SLOW), 0.38 (S/F), and 0.38 (F/S) kg/d. The intermediate rates of gain (S/F and F/S) were created by switching steers from slow to fast or fast to slow midway through the wintering period. Following winter treatments, steers were assigned to one of two summer treatments: supplemented (S) or nonsupplemented (NS). In Trial 2, 32 summer-born steers were wintered at an ADG of 0.25 kg/d and allotted to the same summer treatments as Trial 1. The supplement was formulated to supply 200 g/d of UIP. Steers from both trials grazed upland Sandhills range from May to September 1998. In Trial 3, 49 spring-born steers (228 kg) were used in a 2 x 7 factorial arrangement of treatments. Steers were wintered at two rates of gain, 0.71 (FAST) and 0.24 kg/d (SLOW) and then assigned randomly to one of six levels of UIP supplementation or an energy control. Protein supplements were formulated to deliver 75, 112.5, 150, 187.5, 225, or 262.5 g/d of UIP. Sources of UIP for all trials were treated soybean meal and feather meal. In Trial 1, there were no (P > 0.05) winter by summer treatment interactions, and UIP supplementation increased (P = 0.0001) pasture gains over NS steers. In Trial 2, supplementation increased (P = 0.001) pasture ADG of summer-born steers by 0.15 kg/d compared with NS steers. In Trial 3, a winter gain by UIP supplementation interaction was observed (P = 0.09). Gain of FAST steers responded quadratically (P = 0.09) across UIP levels, with the maximum gain occurring at the 150 g/d UIP level. The SLOW steers responded linearly (P = 0.02) to increasing UIP levels; however, the response was negative. Levels of UIP above 150 g/d reduced steers gains; therefore, the data were reanalyzed excluding these levels. These new analyses showed that FAST steers responded linearly (P = 0.08; 0.2 kg/d) to increasing UIP, whereas the SLOW steers had no response to UIP. In Trials 1 and 3, SLOW steers experienced compensatory gain and had higher gains overall. We concluded that previous winter gain affected the response to UIP supplementation with the FAST winter gain group having a greater response.     

Anthelmintic efficacy and dose determination of Albizia anthelmintica against gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected Ugandan sheep

Weight loss, stunted growth, and death caused by gastrointestinal parasites are major constraints to livestock productivity, especially in tropical and developing countries where regular use, and misuse, of anthelmintics has led to nematode resistance. Albizia anthelmintica Brong. (Fabaceae) is traditionally employed throughout East Africa to treat helminth parasitosis in livestock. Reported efficacy has varied from 90% against mixed nematodes to just 19% against Haemonchus contortus alone. The objective of this study was to assess the anthelmintic effect of A. anthelmintica against naturally occurring infections of mixed gastrointestinal parasites, and to establish an effective treatment dose, in sheep under pastoral field conditions of northern Uganda. A. anthelmintica bark was collected and prepared according to local custom and packed into gel capsules. Fifty-five young female local mixed-breed lambs were randomly assigned to six groups, including a positive control group that received levamisole (synthetic anthelmintic) and a negative control group that received no treatment. Following the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) dose determination guidelines, the other four groups were treated with varying doses of A. anthelmintica. Statistical analyses (using generalized linear models) were performed to assess treatment effect. There was a significant treatment (group) effect on parasite egg/oocyte counts per gram (EPG) for nematodes, but not for coccidia. The most effective dose against nematodes (0.8g, 58.7mg/kg) closely approximates what is usually given by traditional healers, 0.9g/adult sheep. It provided major and significant reduction in EPG as compared to the negative control. Anthelmintic efficacy was estimated using percent faecal egg count reduction (FECR). Other than the positive control, animals in the standard dose group showed the greatest decline in shedding of nematode eggs, with an FECR of 78%. This study indicates that A. anthelmintica holds potential as part of an integrated management plan for the control of helminths in developing countries.     

Effects of condensed tannin from Acacia mearnsii on sheep infected naturally with gastrointestinal helminthes

The effect of tannins on endoparasite control in hair sheep was investigated using 20 entire lambs of the Santa Inês breed. At the beginning of the experiment these animals were 6-months old and weighed 22.5kg+/-4.7. The treatments used were (10 animals each): GT (animals receiving 18g of Acácia negra containing 18% of condensed tannin/animal/week) and GC (animals not receiving tannin). The experiment lasted 84 days, with animals kept on an Andropogon gayanus pasture. Faeces were collected weekly, with weighing and blood collection carried out fortnightly. At slaughter, the adult worms were harvested for identification and counting. Although the GT animals weighed more than the GC lambs at slaughter, these differences were not significant (P>0.05). In general, the values for haemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, urea, phosphorus and calcium in the serum were within normal levels and no significant differences between groups were observed. For faecal egg count (FEC), lower values were observed throughout the experiment in the group receiving tannin, but these differences were only significant in the eighth week. There was a lower output of eggs by regression for GT compared with GC (P<0.05). The species identified, in decreasing order of worm count, were: Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Cooperia sp., Strongyloides papillosus, Trichuris globulosa and Moniezia expansa. The total worm count and number of each species of worm were lower for GT compared with GC for T. colubriformis and Cooperia sp. (P<0.05). Condensed tannin (CT) from A. negra had an antiparasitic effect, thereby representing an alternative for worm control in sheep.     

Evaluation of the effect of eprinomectin in young dairy heifers sub-clinically infected with gastrointestinal nematodes on grazing behaviour and diet selection

Inappetence is commonly associated with parasitism and has been observed in both housed and pastured ruminants. In seeking a functional explanation for these observations, it has been hypothesised that parasitized animals may feed more selectively in order to proportionally increase the protein content of their diet and thus partially compensate for their reduced feed intake. Support for this theory is found principally in studies in housed animals under carefully controlled experimental conditions. Grazing animals face a far more heterogeneous environment and a multiplicity of potentially confounding factors that could influence diet selection. Controlled grazing of adjacent monocultures of grass and clover can mitigate some of these variables and was used in the current study to examine the dietary preference of dairy heifers with sub-clinical parasitic gastroenteritis when compared to those receiving regular anthelmintic treatments. Grazing behaviour and herbage intake rates were determined through the use of jaw-movement recorders, direct observation and short-term liveweight change. Consistent with previous observations and despite evidence that nematode burdens were low in the untreated control heifers, a reduction in daily grazing time of 56 min (P = 0.054) was observed in the control animals. There was, however, no evidence that the control heifers showed greater preference for clover compared with ryegrass: partial preference for clover was 73.0% in the untreated controls and 75.5% in the treated heifers. Furthermore control heifers were observed grazing the clover swards significantly (P = 0.032) less frequently than the treated heifers. This study provides additional evidence in grazing cattle for parasite-induced inappetence, manifest as a reduction in grazing time and in subtle changes in ingestive behaviour. The observed partial preference for clover in both treated and control cattle was not significantly affected by the level of parasitism.