Sustainable Control of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminants using Forages Containing Condensed Tannins

Project Overview

LS04-164
Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2004: $15,500.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Southern
State: Georgia
Principal Investigator:
Will R. Getz
Email
Fort Valley State University

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: cotton, millet, rye, sorghum (milo), wheat, grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Additional Plants: native plants, trees
  • Animals: goats, sheep

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage, parasite control, herbal medicines, grazing - multispecies, grazing - rotational, vaccines
  • Crop Production: agroforestry
  • Education and Training: demonstration, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
  • Farm Business Management: budgets/cost and returns
  • Pest Management: biological control, chemical control, genetic resistance
  • Production Systems: holistic management

    Proposal abstract:

    Alternatives to chemical (anthelmintic) control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in small ruminants is needed to improve viability of this industry for small and limited resource farmers in the southern USA, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Use of plant-based solutions, including rotational grazing, feeding or grazing of condensed tannin (CT)-containing forages, and utilization of larval migration patterns in different forage types, have shown promise in controlling parasitic nematodes of small ruminants. Research staff, Extension personel, and farmers from throughout the southern USA, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands will meet for several planning meetings leading to development of a full SARE R&E proposal concerning sustainable, plant-based GIN control systems for limited resource sheep and goat farmers throughout the Southern-SARE region.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Objective 1 - To assemble a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution, multi-state team of researchers, extension personnel, commodity leaders, and farmers to discuss, prioritize, and plan a field-based research program using bioactive forages and other forage/grazing strategies for sustainable control of small ruminant GIN in the Southern US.

    Objective 2 - To develop an education and outreach plan to effectively share research results and prepare informational materials for appropriate clientele groups throughout the Southern-SARE region.

    Objective 3 - To develop a full R&E proposal for submission to the Southern-SARE Program in 2005.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.