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The effect of long-term feeding of fresh and ensiled cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage on gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats

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Abstract

The benefit of long-term feeding of fresh or ensiled cassava foliage on gastrointestinal parasite in goats was evaluated. Eighteen male goats (15.15 ± 2.83kg and between 4–6months) were randomly allocated into three treatments supplemented with 200g of wheat bran head−1 day−1. All groups were fed ad-libitum on either grass (CO), fresh cassava (CaF) or ensiled cassava foliage (CaS). At the beginning of the trial, each goat was inoculated with 3000 L3 containing ≈50% Haemonchus contortus. Individual LWt, FEC and PCV were measured at weekly intervals for 10weeks. At the termination of the experiment all goats were slaughtered for worm recovery and enumeration. The goats in CaF and CaS had similar weight gains while those in CO lost weight (p < 0.05) through the trial. FEC in CaF and CaS were lower (p < 0.05) than CO during the patency of parasite infections, but there was no difference between CaF and CaS goats. PCV of all groups decreased from above 30% to around 25% at the end of the trial. The compositions of established worm burdens were mainly H. contortus (19–40%) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (55–76%). TWB did not differ among the groups, however, CaS significantly reduced H. contortus burdens, as compared to CaF and CO (p ≤ 0.005). Thus, ensiled cassava foliage reduced the H. contortus population while the fresh foliage only reduced worm fecundity.

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Abbreviations

ADG:

average daily weight gain

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

CP:

crude protein

DM:

dry matter

EPG:

egg per gram faeces

FEC:

faecal egg count

GLM:

general linear model

HCN:

hydrocyanic acid

L3:

third-stage larvae

LWt:

live weight

N:

Nitrogen

PCV:

packed cell volume

TWB:

total worm burden

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Acknowledgements

The study was financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Department for Research Cooperation (Sida/SAREC), through the regional program Mekong basin Agriculture Research Network (MEKARN). Research facilities were provided by the Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development (CelAgrid). We acknowledge the Department of Animal Health and Production, Parasitology division in Cambodia, who provide the facility for worm counting in this experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Livestock and Agriculture Development (CelAgrid), P.O. Box 2423, Phnom Penh 3, Cambodia

    S. Sokerya & P. Try

  2. Department of Parasitology (SWEPAR), National Veterinary Institute and Swedish, University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7073, S-751 89, Uppsala, Sweden

    S. Sokerya, P. J. Waller & J. Höglund

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  1. S. Sokerya
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  2. P. J. Waller
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  3. P. Try
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  4. J. Höglund
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Correspondence to J. Höglund.

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Sokerya, S., Waller, P.J., Try, P. et al. The effect of long-term feeding of fresh and ensiled cassava (Manihot esculenta) foliage on gastrointestinal nematode infections in goats. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 251–258 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9182-x

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