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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #373527
Research Project: Sustainable Small Farm and Organic Grass and Forage Production Systems for Livestock and Agroforestry

Location: Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

Title: Determining the efficacy of Red Cell® in combination with anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in sheep and goats

Author
item WHITLEY, NIKI - Fort Valley State University
item Burke, Joan
item SMITH, EVELYN - Fort Valley State University
item LYTE, KIANNA - Fort Valley State University
item TERRILL, THOMAS - Fort Valley State University

Submitted to: Small Ruminant Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2022
Publication Date: 2/24/2022
Citation: Whitley, N.C., Burke, J.M., Smith, E., Lyte, K., Terrill, T.H. 2022. Determining the efficacy of Red Cell® in combination with anthelmintics against gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in sheep and goats. Small Ruminant Research. 209(26):106656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106656.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106656

Interpretive Summary: There are diminishing options for control of nematode parasites in sheep and goats due to dewormer resistance, and little available to aid in the recovery from severe parasitism. Producers became interested in a commercial source (Red Cell®) of an iron rich drench for horses to aid in recovery of anemia in sheep and goats associated with infection of barberpole worm after deworming. Scientists at Fort Valley State University and USDA, ARS in Booneville, AR determined that after deworming with one of three different commercial products (albendazole, levamisole, or moxidectin), the iron-rich product (Red Cell®) did not aid in the recovery of anemia in sheep or goats. This information is important to small ruminant producers, extension agents, veterinarians, and scientists.

Technical Abstract: Small ruminants are highly susceptible to infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), particularly Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeder that can cause severe anemia and death losses in untreated animals. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that short-term treatment of heavily infected animals with Red Cell®, a vitamin and mineral supplement, in combination with anthelmintic drugs may reduce morbidity and mortality. In this study, four experiments were conducted to determine possible impacts of Red Cell® on indicators of GIN in small ruminants. Each of the four experiments was comprised of a two-week trial using mixed-sex naturally parasitized hair sheep lambs or intact male Spanish goat kids housed on pasture. The treatments consisted of Red Cell® with or without albendazole (Exp. 1, lambs), levamisole (Exp. 2, lambs and 3, goats), or moxidectin (Exp. 4, goats), the anthelmintic alone, or water/no treatment. Fecal and blood samples were collected from individual animals on day 0, 7, and 14. Fecal egg counts (FEC) in eggs per gram of feces (epg) and packed cell volume (PCV) were conducted. Complete blood cell analysis was also conducted on blood samples for Exp. 1-3. Overall, though anthelmintic treatments did influence GIN indicators, there was no effect of Red Cell® treatment for the majority of the parameters studied. However, additional studies using animals more severely impacted by parasites such as those for which anecdotal claims were made may be warranted.