Small ruminants are very affected by gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasitism worldwide. The improvement of the host protective response and the reduction of the probability of contact between hosts and parasites appear as very promising strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of two components of these two strategies on natural GIN infection and production performances of Creole goat kids: dietary supplementation and a rotational mixed grazing system. One hundred and twenty weaned Creole kids and six Creole heifers were divided into four experimental batches: Splus (supplemented) vs. Szero (non-supplemented) × Mixed grazing (kids associated with heifers) vs. Control (kids alone), and grazing plots of forage grasses were balanced for live weight (LW) in both species. The feed intake, blood, and parasitological parameters and production performances between 3 and 11 months of age were monitored. The fecal egg count (FEC) was significantly lower and the packed cell volume (PCV) significantly higher in the Mixed grazing groups. No effect of supplementation was observed for FEC. In contrast, PCV, body condition score, and live weight were significantly higher in supplemented animals whatever the groups. Mixed grazing system and supplementation had significant effects on the slaughter parameters (P < 0.05), but there was no significant interaction. Our results suggested that the advantage driven either by mixed grazing or dietary supplementation on kids' performances would be equivalent, and the combination of both would improve the animal performances.
Protein and condensed tannin-rich foliage (TRF) are potentially useful as nutraceuticals. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the diet and anthelmintic properties of three TRF types both individually and in combination. We hypothesized that synergistic or antagonistic effects on feed and anthelmintic values related to associations between TRF types may occur. Nutritional and anthelmintic characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala, Manihot esculenta, Cajanus cajan and a mixture of the compounds were evaluated using alfalfa pellets as a control. TRF ingredients were combined with Dichantium hay (48 and 52% of dry matter intake respectively) in mixed diets were consumed by Creole goat kids. Measurements were carried out in animals without parasites and in animals artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus. Individual feed intake and the digestibility of each diet was measured along with kid growth. There were no significant differences between the growth rates of pre-infected animals and animals fed mixed diets that included alfalfa. A strong anthelmintic activity is observed with Leucaena leucocephala contrary to other TRFs. This work confirms variable dietary and anthelmintic properties of TRF. The combination of TRF did not have synergistic or antagonistic effects on feed value or the anthelmintic potential of TRF.
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