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

Alternatives to chemical (anthelmintics) 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. Scientists, Extension personnel, and farmers from throughout the southern USA, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands met for several planning meetings leading to development of several SARE PDP and graduate student grants, and grants to other funding agencies (Morris Animal Foundation, USDA 1890 Institution Capacity Building) concerning sustainable, plant-based GIN control systems for limited resource sheep, goat, and South American camelid (llamas and alpacas) farmers throughout the Southern SARE region.

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 proposals for submission to the Southern Region SARE Program and other funding agencies in 2006-2007.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Seventeen scientists, extension professionals, and producers met on May 25-26, 2006, on the campus of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, to plan research, extension activities, and proposal-writing to secure additional funding to support the goals of the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC). This organization was formed with SARE funding support and is dedicated to development, testing, and on-farm implementation of non-chemical methods of controlling gastrointestinal nematode infection in small ruminants.

As a result of these meetings, two SARE graduate student proposals, and a SARE PDP proposal were submitted for the 2007 funding cycle. Both graduate student proposals were funded.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The impact of these research and extension planning workshops is in proposals developed and funded to allow the activities of the SCSRPC to continue. As a direct result of research planning meetings in 2006, two SARE graduate student projects were funded, both of which addressed on-farm application of novel (non-chemical) small ruminant parasite control technologies.

Collaborators: