COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATE, MILK PRODUCTION, AND RESISTANCE OF THE RED SOKOTO AND SAHELIAN BREEDS OF GOATS TO EXPERIMENTAL HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS INFECTION.
COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATE, MILK PRODUCTION, AND RESISTANCE OF THE RED SOKOTO AND SAHELIAN BREEDS OF GOATS TO EXPERIMENTAL HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS INFECTION.
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Date
2009-07
Authors
MAKUN, Hussaina
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Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the production potential and relative resistance to Haemonchus contortus of Red Sokoto and Sahelian breeds goats fed basal diets of Digitaria simutsii supplemented with concentrate. In experiment 1, five multi-parous does of each breed were placed on intensive management following kidding and does were hand-milked twice weekly. The average birth weight of the Sahelian (2.2±0.17) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the Red Sokoto kids (1.0± 0.17). At weaning, the average kid weight of the Sahelian (5.6± 0.12) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the Red Sokoto (3.7± 0.12). Breed had significant (P<0.01) effect on the milk solid and milk fat content, with the Red Sokoto producing higher milk solid and fat. Experiment 2 was conducted to compare the growth rate of the two breeds. The respective mean birth and weaning weights (kg) for Red Sokoto kids were 1.00±0.17 and 7.5±0.64 compared to the respective corresponding values of 2.2±0.17 and 7.8±0.64 for the Sahelian. The average daily gain was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the Red Sokoto (66.9±1.59g/day) than the Sahelian kids (46.6±1.59g/day). Experiment 3 was conducted to determine the relative resistance of Red Sokoto and Sahelian kids to experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. Fifteen goats of each breed were either given 0L3/kg (treatment 1), 75 L3/kg (treatment 2) or 100 L3/kg (treatment 3), three times weekly for 3 weeks. The mean faecal egg output expressed in eggs per gram (epg) was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the Sahelian (1477±153.4) than the Red Sokoto (607±147.5). The mean total protein was statistically different between breeds, the Red Sokoto being higher (P<0.05) than the Sahelian (64.6± 1.81 Vs 57.6± 1.86). In Experiment 4, the study was as in
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Experiment 2 using lactating goats. The Red Sokoto were included in the no infection (control), low infection (75L3/kg live weight) and high infection level (100/kg live weight), levels while the Sahelian does were only included in control and low infection groups. The faecal egg count showed significant variation for treatment (P<0.05) but not for breed. The eggs per gram for the control, low and high infection levels were 1.3 ±131.91, 647.4±120.23 and 274.1±190.35 respectively. The control, low and high infection levels had milk yields of 132.8±8.58, 252.8±7.35 and 237.8±11.93ml/day. The Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was significantly (P<0.05) affected by infection levels but not by breed. The PCV of the control, low and high infection levels were 26.7±0.69, 25.0±0.59 and 23.5±0.95% respectively. Similarly, the albumin concentration varied significantly (P<0.05) for breed and infection levels. The Sahelian goats had higher albumin concentrations (35.7±0.67g/lt) than the Red Sokoto goats (33.7±0.56). Overall, the albumin concentrations for the control, low and high infection groups were 35.7±0.70, 33.3±0.66 and 34.9±0.91g/lt respectively. The total protein concentration was significantly affected by breed and not by infection levels. The Sahelian had higher levels (65.7±1.33g/lt)than the Red Sokoto (63.1±0.80g/lt). It was concluded that the Red Sokoto were able to resist the experimental Haemonchus infection based on the lower faecal egg output, slightly higher PCV and average daily gain than the Sahelian.
Description
THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
GROWTH RATE,, MILK PRODUCTION,, RESISTANCE,, RED SOKOTO,, SAHELIAN BREEDS,, GOATS, HAEMONCHUS,, CONTORTUS INFECTION.