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ISSN 2311-3219 - An International Triannual Journal
Effects of Dietary Protein Supplementation on the Performance and Non-Carcass Components of Goats Artificially Infected with Haemonchus contortus
Emmanuel M. Atiba 1, 2*, Brian Sayre 3, Vitalis W. Temu 1
1 Department of Animal Production, College of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, PO Box 82, Juba, South Sudan
2 Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
3 Biology Department, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary protein supplementation on feed intake, body weight gain, FAMACHA scores, fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), and non-carcass components of goats infected with Haemonchus contortus. Sixteen bucks with an average body weight of 23.69ą0.88 kg (MeanąS.E) were used in the study. The animals were randomly divided into infected and non-infected groups, then assigned to either a high (HP) or low (LP) protein diet. The infected groups were trickle infected with stage L3 of H. contortus larvae at a dose of 600 units. Feed intake, body weight, FAMACHA scores, PCV and FEC were determined using standard procedures. After 140 days, 12 goats were randomly selected for slaughter. Non-carcass components were weighed and recorded. The results showed that diet and infection significantly (P<0.0001) affected feed intake. Goat body weight was highly affected by diet, infection and time, while PCV was significantly influenced by infection and the interaction between diet and infection. There was a highly significant (P<0.0001) difference in FAMACHA scores between HPI and LPI groups. FEC of goats on the LP diet was significantly higher than those on the HP diet. The infection had a significant (P<0.05) effect on goat liver weight. It was concluded that a high protein diet may improve resistance and resilience to H. contortus infection in pen-raised goats fed a concentrate-only diet.
Keywords Growth performance, clinical parameters, Haemonchus contortus, non-carcass.
Received April 12, 2016 Accepted June 28, 2016 Abstract Published July 25, 2016 Manuscript Published August 15, 2016
*Corresponding author Emmanuel M. Atiba E-mail atibaemmanuel@yahoo.com Phone (+211) 922663302
Veterinary / Animal Sciences | Research article
2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 2