ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Relative economic benefits of tactical anthelmintic treatment and urea-molasses block supplementation of Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions at Onderstepoort, Pretoria, South Africa

 

 

A.F. Vatta^{I, II}; R.C. Krecek^III; R.A. Pearson^IV; M.F. Smith^V; M.O. Stenson^I; E.F. Van Wijk^I; L.J.S. Harrison^IV

^IOnderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
^IIUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209 South Africa
^IIIKrecek and Krecek, P.O. Box 12832, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa. Present addresses: Ross University School of Veterinary Medi cine, St Kitts, West Indies and University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
^IVUniversity of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Division of Veterinary Clinical Science (incorporating Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine), Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, EH25 9RG United Kingdom
^VAgricultural Research Council, Biometry Unit, Private Bag X519, Silverton, 0127 South Africa

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The potential economic benefits of combining tactical anthelmintic treatment for gastrointestinal nematodes and nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks were examined in Boer goats raised under extensive grazing conditions in the summer rainfall area of South Africa. Eight groups of nine goats were monitored over a 12-month period from 1 October 2002 to 9 October 2003. Ad libitum nutritional supplementation with urea-molasses blocks was provided when the goats were housed at night, during the summer (wet season-December 2002 to February 2003), and/or the winter (dry season-June 2003 to August 2003). All the goats were treated symptomatically for Haemonchus contortus infection when deemed necessary by clinical examination of the conjunctiva for anaemia using the FAMACHA© system. Half the groups were tactically treated for gastrointestinal nematodes in mid-summer (28 January 2003). Under the symptomatic treatment, climatic and extensive grazing conditions encountered during the trial, feed supplementation in the winter dry season had the greatest economic benefit and is therefore recommended. Tactical anthelmintic treatment afforded no additional advantage, but the nematode challenge was low.

Keywords: Boer goats, extensive grazing, Haemonchus contortus, symptomatic drenching, tactical drenching, urea-molasses blocks

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Accepted for publication 28 May 2008-Editor

 

 

* Author to whom correspondence is to be directed. E-mail: VattaA@arc.agric.za