EVALUATION OF PELIBUEY LAMBS BORN TO MOTHERS PHENOTYPICALLY SEGREGATED ACCORDING TO RESISTANCE TO GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN THE HUMID TROPICS OF MEXICO.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the resistance of ewes to gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) on the parasitologic and productive performance of their lambs during preweaning and postweaning periods. Offspring from 44 Pelibuey ewes classified as resistant or susceptible to GIN were evaluated. During the preweaning period, birth weight (BW), live weight (LW) at 35 and 70 days of age, and live weight changes (LWC) were determined in 73 lambs. During the postweaning period, 20 lambs to susceptible or resistant ewes were evaluated. The lambs were challenged under natural GIN infections and artificial infection with L3 of Haemonchus contortus. The fecal egg count (FEC), hematocrit (HT), peripheral eosinophil count, plasma protein, LW, and LWC were determined. There were no differences among parameters evaluated during preweaning (P > 0.05). The type of lambing (single or multiple) affected the BW, LW, and LWC (P < 0.01). The sex (male) of the lamb had a positive effect on BW at 35 and 70 days of age (P < 0.05). After weaning, lambs of susceptible ewes showed higher FEC than resistant ewes (P < 0.05). The HT of lambs to resistant ewes was higher than those the susceptible group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, offspring of resistant ewes show low FEC compared with those susceptible during the postweaning stage.