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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #248828
Title: Using copper oxide wire particles or sericea lespedeza to prevent a peri-parturient rise of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats

Author
item Burke, Joan
item ORLIK, S - Louisana State University
item MILLER, J - Louisana State University
item TERRILL, T - Fort Valley State University
item MOSJIDIS, J - Auburn University

Submitted to: Livestock Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2010
Publication Date: 7/1/2010
Citation: Burke, J.M., Orlik, S., Miller, J.E., Terrill, T.H., Mosjidis, J.A. 2010. Using copper oxide wire particles or sericea lespedeza to prevent a peri-parturient rise of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats. Livestock Science. 132(1-3):13-18.

Interpretive Summary: Alternatives to chemicals are needed for control of worms in sheep and goats because of drug resistance and a desire to reduce chemical residues in meat products. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) and sericea lespedeza have been useful in controlling worms in sheep and goats, but little information is available on combining these tools, especially around lambing or kidding time. Scientists at USDA, ARS in Booneville, AR, Louisiana State University, and Fort Valley State University, GA determined that sericea lespedeza aided in the control of worms, and while feeding COWP to ewes and does around lambing/kidding offered some control of worms, body weight of offspring at birth and 60 or 90 days of age may be reduced.. These results indicate that COWP and sericea lespedeza can be used as tools for the control of worms, but should be integrated with good management and nutrition for optimal worm control; this information is important to producers, extension agents, and scientists.

Technical Abstract: Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) continue to plague the small ruminant industry, especially parts of the world with warm, humid climates. Alternatives to chemicals are needed for GIN control because of anthelmintic resistance of GIN and a desire to reduce chemical residues in meat products. A study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) alone or in combination with sericea lespedeza in controlling GIN during the peri-parturient period in sheep or goats. Three experiments using peri-parturient does or ewes addressed the objective: 1) in Arkansas, meat goats were untreated (n = 20) or fed COWP (2 g each) in pelleted sericea lespedeza (n = 22) while consuming sericea lespedeza hay before kidding, 2) in Arkansas, 42 hair breed ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (2 g each) within groups fed bermudagrass or sericea lespedeza hay in a 2 × 2 factorial design before lambing, 3) in Louisiana, wool breed ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (4 g each) in a pelleted ration (n = 10 each) after lambing began. Fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were determined weekly in all experiments and coproculture to examine GIN species were conducted in the first two experiments. Haemonchus contortus is typically the predominant GIN even during cooler months. However, Trichostrongylus spp. was the predominant GIN in Arkansas during these experiments. In all of the experiments, feeding COWP led to a reduction in FEC, but no change in PCV. The sericea lespedeza hay fed to ewes in Experiment 2 was associated with a reduction in FEC compared with ewes fed bermudagrass hay. Kids and lambs from COWP-treated females in two experiments were lighter than those from untreated females. Sericea lespedeza aided in the control of GIN and while feeding COWP to peri-parturient ewes and does offered some control of GIN, body weight of offspring at birth and 60 or 90 days of age may be reduced.