Abstract
The potential economic benefits of combining tactical anthelmintic treatment for gastrointestinal nematodes and nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks were examined in Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions in the summer rainfall area of South Africa. Eight groups of nine goats were monitored over a 12-month period from 1 October 2002 to 9 October 2003. Ad libitum nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks was provided when the goats were housed at night, during the summer (wet season--December 2002 to February 2003), and/or the winter (dry season--June 2003 to August 2003). All the goats were treated symptomatically for Haemonchus contortus infection when deemed necessary by clinical examination of the conjunctiva for anaemia using the FAMACHA system. Half the groups were tactically treated for gastrointestinal nematodes in mid-summer (28 January 2003). Under the symptomatic treatment, climatic and extensive grazing conditions encountered during the trial, feed supplementation in the winter dry season had the greatest economic benefit and is therefore recommended. Tactical anthelmintic treatment afforded no additional advantage, but the nematode challenge was low.
Highlights
Livestock disease caused by gastrointestinal nematodes is considered to have a major impact on the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers (Perry, Randolph, McDermott, Sones & Thornton 2002)
The aim of the current study was to obtain quantitative data on the economic benefits of tactical anthelmintic treatment combined with nutritional supplementation against gastrointestinal
The pasture had apparently not been grazed by small ruminants for 6 years prior to the current study, but had been used for the grazing of cattle, which shared the paddock with a small number of impalas (Aepyceros melampus), common duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia), steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) and warthog (Phacocherus aethiopicus)
Summary
Livestock disease caused by gastrointestinal nematodes is considered to have a major impact on the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers (Perry, Randolph, McDermott, Sones & Thornton 2002). The aim of the current study was to obtain quantitative data on the economic benefits of tactical anthelmintic treatment combined with nutritional supplementation against gastrointestinal. Tactical anthelmintic treatment and urea-molasses block supplementation of Boer goats at Onderstepoort, South Africa nematode infections in Boer goats. We define tactical anthelmintic treatment as the deworming of an entire flock when a large number of worms are expected, e.g. after good rains at a time when temperature and pasture conditions are ideal for the free-living stages (Van Schalkwyk, Schröder, Malan & Van Wyk 1995) and symptomatic treatment as the specific treatment of individual animals showing lifethreatening clinical signs of worm infection. The pasture had apparently not been grazed by small ruminants for 6 years prior to the current study, but had been used for the grazing of cattle, which shared the paddock with a small number of impalas (Aepyceros melampus), common duikers (Sylvicapra grimmia), steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) and warthog (Phacocherus aethiopicus). The cattle were removed from the paddock before the start of the experiment
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