Progress 07/01/07 to 10/01/12
Outputs
Target Audience: This research project involved University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) scientists and graduate students, as well as researchers from Delaware State University and North Carolina A&T University. The final results were presented by several media (posters, oral presentation and conferences) to the following target audiences: Annual meetings of the American Society of Animal Science (New Orleans, LA and Indianapolis, IN) Scientists, farmers and students attending the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) while attending the 10th Integrated Parasite Management/Train-the-Trainer. During the conference stakeholders in the small ruminant community were educated on the most up-to-date methods and recommendations for parasite control as well as provide training and certification in integrated parasite management. The meeting was at Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA. Multiple sheep and goat producers, students and agriculturists participated in several workshops on integrated gastrointestinal parasite management. The role of natural dewormers was part of the discussion on parasite management. Local seminars and conferences during the UMES Research Symposium, Ag Field Days, Small Farm Conferences and the UMES School of Agriculture Scientific Seminars series. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The experiences during the project have enhanced the farmers training via the Smart Drench workshop. The workshops focus is on the individualized anthelmintic treatment of sheep and goats based on the FAMACHA score card. The bulk of questions from farmers and agriculturists are on the use of “natural dewormers” and the experience that UMES researchers have developed using those compounds. The experiments conducted at UMES do not support the use of alternative anthelmintics for effective treatment of small ruminants internal parasites. Five workshops were conducted during the duration of the project. Participants learned hands-on the proper use of the FAMACHA score card, fecal collection and processing. In addition fecal egg count practicing sessions were associated with the Smart Drench workshops. Workshop participants recieved a certificate of participation and proficiency on the use of the FAMACHA score card and understanding of anthelmintic resistance. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been disseminated to interested parties via proceedings, web sites and periodic publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
At UMES, we have conducted several research projects on the effects of “natural dewormers” on gastrointestinal parasites. Some of the “natural dewormers” tested at UMES have been: ** garlic ** high tannin sorghum ** papaya seeds, ** sericea lespedeza, and ** pumpkin seeds However, UMES researchers were not able to replicate the results from other investigators, i.e. 64.4% reduction in FEC in sheep using garlic and 65.5% reduction in FEC when pumpkin seeds were fed. None of the natural dewormers tested at UMES (papaya seeds, pumpkin seeds, garlic, etc) reduced the FEC when fed to sheep or goats. Sensory evaluation showed that garlic,sericea lespedeza, papaya seeds and pumpkin seeds effects on meat (lamb or chevon) flavor were not detectable (not significant difference). The list of reports on the use of alternative anthelmintics for use in sheep and goats is overwhelming; however, the methods for analysis are ingenious but not standardized. It seems that the compounds tested may reduce larval activity in-vitro but when tested in-vivo the results from treated animals are not different than results from the control ones. One difficulty which is very common is the proper identification of the plants. The scientific name plus the variety should be included in reports. For example, pumpkin’s scientific name is Cucurbita pepo; however there are at least 5 varieties commercially cultivated in the US. Another underlying situation exists when researchers need to decide between running an in-vitro trial or an in-vivo trial. Both complement each other providing information to better understand the results in the field and to make recommendations. Once more there is the need of collaborative studies and the contribution of chemists, botanists and animal scientists in order to identify alternative compounds to control worms in sheep and goats.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control
10th Anniversary Conference
May 20-22, 2013
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, Georgia, USA
Conference Proceedings
Alternative Compounds to Commercially Available Anthelmintics to be Used in Sheep and Goats
E. Nelson Escobar
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Parasitic nematodes in the gastrointestinal tract of sheep and goats are lethal and are perceived as a detriment to the livestock's wellbeing and therefore restrain sheep/goat producer profitability- because small ruminants will succumb to the worms. In particular, the barber pole worm, Haemonchus contortus, causes loss of blood (anemia) and heart failure. After use or misuse of commercial anthelmintics, several factors allow the parasitic nematodes the ability to develop resistance to anthelmintics, which is manifested in multiple severity levels. Parasitic nematodes develop resistance when all the worms are not killed during treatment with commercial anthelmintics. The surviving worms pass the genetic resistance to the next generation. Sheep/goat producers have expressed the urgency of finding alternatives to commercial anthelmintics to control or curb internal parasites in small ruminants. Experiments conducted elsewhere have indicated some success in using pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita sp.) for their anthelmintic properties. Reports indicated that cucurbitacins are the compounds in pumpkin seeds that have anthelmintic properties. One critical aspect of testing natural dewormers is the difficulty of the administration of treatment materials, including the challenge to overcome the goats' ability to select feed components. The objectives of this project are to determine the effectiveness of pumpkin seeds in the sheep/goats diet as a natural anthelmintic for small ruminants and also to determine the acceptability of the taste/quality of the harvested meat. In a previous trial conducted at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm to evaluate the effect of pelletized feed containing 21% pumpkin seeds on Haemonchus contortus infections in goats, it was found that the presence of pumpkin seeds in the diet did not affect the fecal egg counts or the percent hematocrit (packed cell volume) in the goats eating the treatment feed. The results were submitted to reviews by several parasitologists and the suggested modifications have been integrated in the next trial in spring 2012. PARTICIPANTS: This research project involves UMES scientists and graduate students, as well as researchers from Delaware State University and North Carolina A&T University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientists attending the fall meeting of the American Consortium of Small Ruminant Parasite Control in Fort Valley State University and stakeholder attending training workshops at UMES (Spring 2012). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The results from the previous trial were submitted for review by several parasitologists, and the suggested modifications will be integrated in the next trial in spring 2012. For example: use of a larger set of younger animals, a parallel trail with sheep (lambs) will be conducted, and only one level of pumpkin seeds will be used as treatment (21% pumpkin seeds in a pelletized diet) plus a control.
Impacts
Plans are underway for a second trial using pumpkin seeds as a natural anthelmintic in sheep and goats. The analyzed data from these studies will be presented at the Southern Consortium for the Small Ruminant Parasite Control meeting, the American Society of Animal Science/Southern Section-Committee/81, and the annual meeting of ASAS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Parasitic nematodes (PAR) in the GI tract of sheep/goats are lethal and are perceived as a detriment to the livestock's well being and therefore restrain sheep/goat producer profitability, because sheep/goats will succumb to PAR (i.e., loss of blood, anemia, and heart failure). After use/misuse of commercial anthelmintics, several factors allowed PAR the ability to develop anthelmintics resistance manifested in multiple severity levels. Experiments conducted elsewhere have indicated some success in using pumpkin seeds (PKS) for their anthelmintic properties. Reports indicated that cucurbitacins are the compounds in PKS that have anthelmintic properties. The objectives of this project were to determine the effectiveness of PKS as a natural anthelmintic for small ruminants and also to determine the acceptability of the taste/quality of the harvested meat. This investigation was conducted at the UMES Small Ruminant Farm, to evaluate the effect of feed containing pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita sp.) on Haemonchus contortus infections in goats. One critical aspect of testing natural dewormers is the difficulty of treatment materials administration, including the challenge to overcome the goats' ability to select feed components. Thirty-five 6-8 month olds, Boer-cross and dairy-cross kids (does and wethers), with average BW 25.3 kg were used. After a two-week adjustment period in individual pens (2 x 2.5 m) with slotted floors, the goat kids were dewormed with albendazole (Valbazen 10 mg/kg) and Cydectin (0.2 mg/kg). After a 21-d dewormer withdrawal period, all kids were orally inoculated three times over 5 d with a 3 ml larval inoculum containing 1,450 H. contortus L3. A pelletized commercial 15% crude protein diet was used as the control (CTRL) feed. The treatment (TRT) diet was formulated with the same ingredients in CTRL diet plus pumpkin seeds (PKS). The pelletized TRT diet contained 200 g PKS/kg of feed. Two TRT feed levels were used: PKS1 had 100 g PKS/kg and consisted of PKS2 (TRT diet with 200 g PKS/kg) mixed equally with the CTRL feed. Thus, the experiment had three treatment groups (CTRL, PKS1, and PKS2) initially with 10 kids per treatment. Only goats with fecal egg count (FEC) >200 epg were used for the study, resulting in 9 CTRL, 4 PKS1, and 6 PKS2 treated kids. Kids were fed the diets for four weeks and individual daily feed intake was recorded. Weekly, the kids were weighed, fecal samples taken (for FEC using the McMaster's technique), and blood samples (for packed cell volume as a measure of anemia were taken upon placing in individual pens (Day 0). Data were analyzed by SAS PROC MIXED. There was no effect of treatment on FEC or PCV; FEC averaged 608 for CTRL, 472 for PKS1 and 780 eggs per g for PKS2;PCV were CTRL: 27.9; PKS1: 29.8, and PKS2: 28.5). In this experiment, PKS did not reduce gastrointestinal nematode fecal egg counts in goats; other trials are needed to complement the present collected data. Feed samples have been sent for cucurbitacins content analysis. Sensory analyses for this study are pending. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
This study is carried out by a Ph.D. graduate student at UMES. Plans are underway to test pumpkin seeds as a natural anthelmintic in sheep and goats. The analyzed data from these studies will be presented at the Southern Consortium for the Small Ruminant Parasite Control meeting, the American Society of Animal Science/Southern Section-Committee 81, and the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science.
Publications
- Abstract #46672: "Lack of an effect of pelletized diets containing pumpkin seeds on gastrointestinal nematode fecal egg counts in goats" in the Small Ruminant Section has been accepted for presentation at the 2011 American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science Joint Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA - July, 2011.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Parasitic nematodes (PN) in the GI tract of sheep and goats are lethal and are perceived as a detriment to the livestock's well being and therefore restrain sheep/goat producer profitability. After use/misuse of commercial anthelmintics factors allowed the PN the ability to develop resistance to anthelmintics. PN develop resistance when all the worms are not killed during treatment with commercial anthelmintics. The surviving worms pass the genetic resistance to the next generation. Sheep/goat producers have expressed the urgency of finding alternatives to commercial anthelmintics to control or curb small ruminant PN. Experiments conducted elsewhere have indicated some success in using papaya seeds (PS) and papaya latex for their anthelmintic properties. However, the feeding of PS could alter the taste of the meat from the animals to which it is fed. The objectives of this project were to determine the effectiveness of PS as a natural anthelmintic for small ruminants and also to determine the acceptability of the taste/quality of the harvested meat. BoerX and KikoX goat kids (GKs) were used in the trial (n=22). The GKs met the following criteria: 8-12 months old, body weight (BW) of 27-36 kg, and a body condition score of 2.5 to 3 on a scale of 1 (emaciated) to 5 (over conditioned/obese). The GKs were removed from the pasture after they had been naturally parasite infected while grazing, as indicated by FAMACHA scores followed by a weekly fecal egg count (FEC). The decisive factor for including the GKs in the trial was a FEC ≥500 eggs per gram (EPG). The GKs were in individual pens (1.52 m x 1.52 m) with slotted floors. One week was allowed for adjustment with ad libitum access to a goat ration and water. Then, the GKs were treated orally with the treatment drench as follows: 11 GKs were administered 6g of crushed PS per kg of BW in 100 ml water, and 11 GKs a 100 ml water drench (control group). Every GK in the trial was offered a goat ration at 4% of individual BW, orts were weighed daily and daily feed was adjusted to up to 6% BW for any GKs consuming all the feed. GKs failing to eat ≤2% of BW/day, for three consecutive days were removed from the study, returned to pasture. The study lasted 21 days. Every week the GKs were weighed, and evaluated using the FAMACHA eye lid color card; fecal samples were taken for FEC using the McMaster's technique. Pooled fecal samples were sent to Louisiana State University for larval identification. GKs with a FAMACHA score ≥4 were treated with a commercial anthelmintic and excluded from the trial. After the trial, 16 GKs were selected and sent to a USDA certified slaughtering facility, carcass data was collected, and ground meat and whole loin samples were frozen and stored for sensory and taste analyses and fatty acid composition. Preliminary results, obtained from fecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT), have indicated that the papaya seeds failed to significantly reduce fecal egg counts in goats during this study. Sensory analyses for this study are pending. PARTICIPANTS: This research project involves UMES scientists and graduate students, as well as researchers from Delaware State University, and North Carolina A&T University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Sheep and goat producers, university students, scientists and extension educators. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This study is carried out by a PhD graduate student a UMES. Plans are under way to test pumpkin seeds as a natural anthelmintic in sheep and goats. The analyzed data from these studies will be presented at the Southern Consortium for the Small Ruminant Parasite Control group as well as to the American Society of Animal Science/Southern Section-Committee 81.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Small ruminants such as sheep and goats are regularly exposed to internal parasites when they graze and are thus generally very susceptible to infection by lethal parasites (worms). The continuous use of chemical dewormers has resulted in reduced effectiveness due to increased resistance of the parasites to the dewormers. So, novel approaches to treat internal parasites are needed. One approach is to feed plant or plant-derived products as natural anthelmintics. However, feed ingredients can have a major impact on meat flavor, so such homeopathic preparations may produce undesirable flavors in the meat from the animals in which they are used. Therefore, the objectives of this proposal are to 1)investigate the efficacy of potential natural dewormers in goats and sheep and 2)determine the influence of potential natural dewormers on the flavor of meat from goats and sheep. Studies have been conducted in sheep and goats to determine the impact of garlic, a potential natural anthelmintic, on meat sensory attributes. Meat samples were collected and are being held for sensory testing. Garlic did not seem to impact internal parasite fecal egg counts (FEC) in the studies conducted so far using one level and dosing method. A study has been conducted in collaboration with Delaware State University (Hickory Hill Farm; DESU) using pumpkin as well with no documented impact on FEC. Meat samples were collected from the pumpkin study and are being held for sensory testing. PARTICIPANTS: This research effort involved scientists and graduate students from University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Delaware State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Collaborations were established between new graduate students at DESU and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Four graduate students were trained in FEC at DESU and two were trained at UMES. Data will be used for one PhD student dissertation and collaborations will assist one MS student at DESU to conduct research for a thesis publication. Data collected so far will be presented to the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasites Control group as well as at the American Society of Animal Science Coordinating Committee 81 meeting in February, 2009. More research is planned with expanded impact to include collaborations with North Carolina A&T State University.
Publications
- OBrien, D. J., M.C. Gooden, and N.C. Whitley. 2009. Use of garlic as a potential natural dewormer in small ruminants. J. Anim. Sci. Supplement, in press.
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