Parasitic Loads and Growth Performance of Goats and Kids under Sequential and Mixed Species Grazing with Cattle at a Constant Stocking Rate | Science Publications

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Calvin Adams¹  Sebhatu Gebrelul¹  Renita Woods Marshall¹  Shonta Manuel¹  Yemane Ghebreiyessus¹ 

关键词: Growth Performance;    Goats;    Sequential Grazing;    Fecal Egg Count;    Mixed Grazing;   

DOI  :  10.3844/ajavsp.2015.141.149

学科分类：兽医学

来源: Science Publications

【 摘 要 】

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectsof sequential and mixed species grazing onparasitic loads and growth performance of goat kids. The study was conductedbetween June and October, 2013. Forty eight (48) “Spanish” kids and 28 Branguscalves were randomly divided into four treatment groups; goats grazing alone(GOA, control), Goats Followed by Cattle (GFC), Cattle Followed by Goats (CFG)and, cattle and goats mixed (MXD) grazing. Each pasture was sub-dividedinto 8 grazing paddocks to facilitate intensive grazing. Each of the 8-hagrazing pasture was sub-divided into two replications and eight paddocks.Animals were moved to a new paddock twice a week (3.5d rotation). The initialstocking rate was based approximately upon 0.8 ha per cow that would allow five cows per replication. Body Weights(BW), body condition score (1=thin, 5=fat, BCS), Famacha^© scores(1=pink, healthy eye, 5=white, anemic) and fecal and blood samples were takenbi-weekly. Fecal and blood samples were analyzed in the lab for fecal egg countin eggs per gram (FEC) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) percentages. Data wasstatistically analyzed using SAS’s MIXED procedure and correlation coefficientswere determined among the measurements. Differences (p<0.05) among treatmentgroups were observed where kids inGOA group were lighter in weight (13.2±0.0 Vs. 17.3±0.6 kg) and lessconditioned (1.9±0.07 Vs. 2.3±0.07) than the CFG, GFC and MXD groups combined. Nodifference in Famacha^© scores (2.3±0.07 Vs. 2.3±0.06) and PCVpercentages (29.4±0.8 Vs 27.7±0.8) were observed between GFC and MXD groups.Male kids were about 1 kg heavier than female kids. BW was positively (p<0.05)correlated with BCS, HG, PCV and negatively with FEC. BCS was positively (p<0.05)correlated with HG, PCV and negatively with FEC. After the eighth week of thestudy, kids in GFC and MXD groups had lower Famacha^© scores andhigher PCV levels than kids in GOA and CFG groups. Overall, compared to kidsgrazing alone, mixed and sequential grazing kids had higher BCS, BW and PCVlevels and lower Famacha^© scores.

【 授权许可】

Unknown