Effect of ensiling on efficacy of sericea lespedeza against gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia in goats

Authors: WHITLEY, NIKI - Fort Valley State University; TERRILL, THOAMS - Fort Valley State University; GRIFFIN, E - Fort Valley State University; GREER-MAPSON, L - Fort Valley State University; SINGH, A - Fort Valley State University; OWEN, VICKI - Fort Valley State University; DYKES, G - Fort Valley State University; KOMMURU, DILL - Fort Valley State University; MILLER, JAMES - Louisiana State University; MOSJIDIS, JORGE - Auburn University; PUNNURI, SOMASHEKHAR - Fort Valley State University; Burke, Joan

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2018
Publication Date: 6/5/2018
Citation: Whitley, N.C., Terrill, T.H., Griffin, E.B., Greer-Mapson, L., Singh, A.K., Owen, V., Dykes, G.S., Kommuru, D.S., Miller, J.E., Mosjidis, J.M., Punnuri, S., Burke, J.M. 2018. Effect of ensiling on efficacy of sericea lespedeza against gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia in goats. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. A(8):377-387. https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6256/2018.06.005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17265/2161-6256/2018.06.005

Interpretive Summary: Condensed tannin rich plants such as sericea lespedeza fed to goats in the form of harvested leaf meal pellets provides a moderate source of protein and aids in the control of internal parasites, specifically barber pole worm and coccidia that cause detrimental health problems such as lost weight gains, anemia and death. Preservation of the forage is desirable to feed when animals are most susceptible to parasites; it is not known whether the bioactivity will be preserved in ensiled sericea lespedeza. Scientists at Fort Valley State University, Louisiana State University, Auburn University, and USDA, ARS in Booneville, AR determined that feeding ensiled or dried sericea lespedeza to naturally infected goats reduced indices of infection of barber pole worm and coccidia compared with a bermudagrass hay control, but also led to reduced weight gain. This information is important to small ruminant producers, extension agents, veterinarians, and scientists.

Technical Abstract: The effect of ensiled sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata] on indicators of gastrointestinal parasitism was investigated in two trials using intact male Spanish goats (n=36/trial). Naturally parasite-infected animals at 24.4 ± 3.7 kg BW and 9 months of age or 24.6 ± 0.57 kg BW at 4 to 6 months of age were used for 28 or 21 days for Trial 1 and 2, respectively. For Trial 1, goats were fed SL silage, SL hay, or bermudagrass (BG: Cynodon dactylon) hay at 70% of the diet. For Trial 2, goats were provided with pre-weighed rations of SL hay or SL silage and orally drenched with 60 ml distilled water (HW and SW, respectively) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) in 60 ml distilled water (SL silage only; SP) daily. FAMACHA© eyelid color scores (Trial 1) and fecal and blood samples were collected on day 0 and every 7 days thereafter to determine GIN eggs (FEC) and coccidial oocysts (FOC) per gram of feces and packed red blood cell volume (PCV). Fecal consistency scoring (1 to 5 with 1=solid pellets and 5=slurry) and uneaten feed (orts) were also measured on the same timeline (Trial 2). Body weights were collected every 14 days to calculate average daily gain (Trial 1). The SL diets significantly reduced (P < 0.05) FEC and FOC in both trials, with the SL hay diet reducing FEC 7 days faster compared to SL silage (vs control in Trial 1; vs day 0 in Trial 2). In PEG-treated goats, FOC tended to increase (P < 0.07) at day 7 before decreasing. There was no treatment effect on PCV, fecal consistency or FAMACHA© eyelid color scores. Body weights and average daily gain were lower (P < 0.03) for SL hay and silage compared to BG hay (Trial 1). Overall, SL hay and silage reduced fecal egg and oocyst counts in goats, but PEG results were inconclusive and growth performance impacts were noted in Trial 1, so more research is needed.