Dietary protein influences on regulation of Haemonchus contortus populations in Dorsimal lambs

• Published in: Journal of helminthology Vol. 72; no. 2; p. 143
• Main Authors: Israf, D A, Zainal, M J, Ben-Gheshir, M A, Rasedee, A, Sani, R A, Noordin, M M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animal Feed; Animals; Dietary Proteins - therapeutic use; Haemonchiasis - immunology; Haemonchus; Immunity, Innate; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - parasitology
• ISSN: 0022-149X
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X00016321

The influence of dietary protein supplementation upon resistance to haemonchosis was examined in Dorsimal (Polled Dorset x Malin) lambs offered two levels of protein. Lambs were offered either a complete basal ruminant diet (15% crude protein (CP)) or the same diet supplemented with fish meal as a source of rumen bypass protein (19% CP). Lambs from each dietary treatment group were given either a 7-week trickle infection with Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3) or remained uninfected. All lambs were drenched with anthelmintic at week 8 post-infection (PI), challenged with a single dose of 5000 H. contortus L3 one week later, and killed 14 days post-challenge (PC). Lambs on the supplemented diet that were trickle infected showed a significant reduction in egg output. Supplementation and previous infection did not affect either growth rate, worm burden, worm development or haematological parameters. There was a trend for enhanced growth among supplemented non-infected lambs in comparison to lambs which received the basal ration.