ISSN 2756-3448
Global Journal of Food and Agricultural SciencesVol. 10 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of protein supplementation on weight gain and dressing percentage in experimentally infected West African Dwarf goats with Haemonchuscontortus and Trichostrongyluscolubriformis
Linus I. Mhomga1*, Pius A. Nnadi2, Samuel N. Chiejina3, Idika K. Idika4 and Lucas A. Ngongeh3
1Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, PMB 2373, Makurdi, Benue State- Nigeria,
2Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukka;
3Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike;
4Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Accepted 13 November, 2022
Abstract
The body weight and dressing percentage of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats affected with mixed gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections were measured as part of a study to determine the impact of protein supplementation. Based on body weight, four groups (A-D) of five worm-free male WAD goats aged 6 to 8 months were created. While groups C and D were fed simply forages, animals in groups A and B were offered forages together with concentrate supplements. Trichostrongyluscolubriformis (Tc) and Haemonchuscontortus (Hc) were experimentally infected on Groups A and D, respectively, but not on Groups B or C. The goats were given single doses of 500 L3 in week 1, 1000 L3 in week 2, 2000 L3 in week 3, and 4000 L3 in week 4 of a weekly trickle-escalating infection with the parasites' infective larval stage (L3). Using accepted methods, body weight,faecal egg counts (FEC) per gramme of faeces, and worn burden (Wb) were calculated. Following the animals' painstaking sacrifice, the experiment's dressing percentage was calculated.The outcomes revealed a Day 42 (D42) body weight and worm burden had a significant negative connection (rp = -0.76; P = 0.01). BCS on D42 was likewise significant and had a weak negative correlation (rs = -0.72; P = 0.02) with worm burden. Groups A and B had a mean dressing % that was substantially higher than groups C and D's (P 0.05). For groups A, B, C, and D, the mean SEM dressing percentages were 59.4 0.6, 60.6 0.7, 56.8 0.4, and 52.4 2.0, respectively.Between groups A and B, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The number of Hc and Tcfaecal eggs on D40 and D42 significantly correlated with the number of D42 worms (rp = 0.74; P = 0.01). We came to the conclusion that supplementing lessened the unfavourable effects of infections on body weight, which enhanced dressing percentage.
Keywords: Body weight, dressing percentage, WAD goats, faecal egg counts, worm burdens.