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

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

Summary

A team of researchers, extension educators, commodity organization leaders, and producers met for two research and extension planning meetings for the purpose of developing SARE R & E, PDP, and Graduate Student Proposals on the field use of condensed tannin-containing forages to control gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants. The proposals were developed for the 2005-2006 funding cycle, and the PDP and Graduate Students proposals were both funded.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. To assemble a multi-disciplinary, multi-institution team of researchers, extension personnel, producer organization 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 USA, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

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

3. To develop a full proposal for submission to the Southern Region SARE Program in 2005.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Members of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC) met at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Stephenville, TX, from April 20-22, 2005 to plan SARE R & E, PDP, and Graduate Student proposals for submission for the 2005-2006 funding cycle. The Graduate Student proposal and the R & E and PDP pre-proposals were completed and submitted on June 1, 2005. The Graduate Student proposal was funded, and the PDP proposal was invited to be submitted as a full proposal. A second planning meeting was held at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC from August 18-19, 2005, to develop plans for submission of the full PDP proposal, which was then completed and submitted by November 15, 2005. The PDP proposal was funded for half the amount requested.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

With a successful outcome of our SARE PDP grant, educational materials will be developed concerning small ruminant parasite control techniques that will reduce producer dependence on chemical anthelmintics and promote use of novel control methods in integrated systems on-farm. The materials will be presented in producer workshops that are already part of SARE-funded SCSRPC activities

Collaborators: