Abstract
The effects of gastrointestinal nematode infections and anthelmintic treatment on milk yields was compared between flocks with a low level (LL) of eggs per gram (epg) before partum and with a high level (HL). Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRTs) were carried out before partum comparing a treated group with netobimin with an untreated group. Ewes belonging to LL flocks produced 55.4% more milk than ewes from HL flocks. A negative correlation was found between the mean epg before treatment and the mean milk yield per flock (r = −0.860; p < 0.01). However, treated ewes produced 10.1% more milk than untreated ewes in LL flocks, although in HL flocks, treated ewes produced less milk (−2.7%). The treatment of flocks even with low levels of infection can improve the milk yields. In this study, the epg before partum had a greater influence on total milk yield than the anthelmintic treatment.
Highlights
Infections by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) affect grazing ruminants, and especially small ruminants, around the world [5]
Coop and Kyriazakis [8] proposed that sheep respond to parasitism by relocating feed resources, with higher priority to maintaining vital body function, followed by other functions such as growing, reproduction and lactation and, as a result, dedicating fewer resources to functions related to immune response to control the infection
Previous studies have shown that GIN infections can have adverse effects on production, especially in relation to losses in weight gain rates and milk production; that said, one must consider the large variations in management practices and environment
Summary
Infections by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) affect grazing ruminants, and especially small ruminants, around the world [5]. According to Torres-Acosta et al [17], a balanced grazing system provides nutrients and an average GIN burden, resulting in optimal levels of productivity; when this balance is broken, the result is an increase in the worm burden and inevitable production losses. Evaluating the effect of an anthelmintic treatment on lactation in grazing animals can be challenging when this effect is compared between different flocks. In this sense, husbandry practices could have an impact and
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