Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Animals: sheep
Practices
- Pest Management: biological control, disease vectors
Proposal abstract:
Infection with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasites, particularly Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeder, is the most important constraint to profitable small ruminant production in the southeastern US and worldwide. Weanlings are especially susceptible to infection during their first grazing season. Infection with H. contortus can rapidly lead to lost production and even death. Over use of anthelmintics (dewormers) has resulted in high levels of dewormer resistance in GIN throughout the southeast and other regions where H. contortus is a problem. The problem has become so severe that it is threatening viability of small-scale and limited-resource small ruminant farm operations in this region despite continued high demand for sheep and goat products. A more sustainable approach to parasite control involves integrating targeted, limited use of anthelmintics with non-chemical alternative control methods that reduce GIN numbers in the host animal and lower pasture contamination with eggs and larvae. Grazing sericea lespedeza [a condensed tannin (CT) containing forage] and feeding whole plant hay and pellets has been shown to effectively control GIN in sheep and goats. In the proposed study, sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets which have a higher concentration of CT, will be evaluated for affect on naturally acquired H. contortus infection. Results will be disseminated to scientific and producer groups via producer workshops, the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control web page (SCSRPC.org), and various scientific and extension publications.
Project objectives from proposal:
Determine the effect of AUGSL leaf meal pellets, fed as a supplement, on H. contortus infection in grazing ewes.