Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1) Examine the use of sericea lespedeza and other condensed tannin- containing plants, as fresh or dried forage (hay, pellets), for gastrointestinal nematode control in sheep and goats; 2) Examine alternative forage systems for grass-fed small ruminants to decrease gastrointestinal nematode infection and increase weight gains; 3) Test integrated, forage-based gastrointestinal nematode control systems for grass-fed small ruminant production on-farm; and 4) Complete impact assessment of non-chemical gastrointestinal nematode control techniques on small ruminant producers. Approach (from AD-416) 1) Sericea lespedeza will be established and the dried product pelleted and integrated into management strategies for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes. 2) Alternative high quality forages will be established, and control of gastrointestinal nematodes and weight gains of lambs and kids will be examined on continuous and rotational grazing systems. 3) On-farm trials to evaluate the establishment and use of tannin-rich plants (grazing and processed) with integrated control methods for parasite control in sheep and goats will be conducted, and economic analysis of various systems will be examined. 4) Effectiveness of workshops, including adoption and use of FAMACHA technology and other non-chemical GIN control techniques by producers, will be assessed using post-workshop survey instruments. At FVSU, feeding hay of serecia lespedeza (SL) to small ruminants has been shown to reduce gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection, but length of feeding time required to achieve the effect is not known. Intact male goat kids (9 mo old, n = 17) were fed either SL leaf meal or ground bermudagrass (BG) hay; all were given 5000 larvae of Haemonchus contortus a week after initiation of feeding, and then slaughtered on day 28 post-infection to determine effects on worm establishment. Another group of kids (n = 17) were fed the BG diet and infected with 5000 larvae each. On day 35 post-infection, kids were randomly allocated to two groups, fed either the SL or BG diet, and then groups from each treatment (n = 4) were slaughtered on 7, 14 and 28 days post-feeding. Feeding SL reduced (P = 0.05) establishment of H. contortus and total GIN, had no effect on number of mature (established) worms, but reduced (P = 0.05) fecundity (number of eggs per female) of the mature GIN by day 28. The SL diet reduced (P = 0.05) fecal egg count and increased (P = 0.05) packed cell volume on days 7, 14, and 28 post-feeding in kids with a mature GIN infection. In a study at Auburn University, AL, and Fort Valley State University, GA, SL was established alone, or with oats, rye, annual ryegrass, or wheat, in 2006 without or with herbicide application. The SL alone was treated with one application of Post herbicide to eliminate narrow-leaf weeds; the other plots remained untreated. By the end of the growing season, plots were evaluated for SL stand, SL dry matter, and weed dry matter. In 2006, results indicated that SL alone had a higher stand and dry weight of SL compared to the other treatments; however, this stand was closely followed by SL established with rye or with wheat and without herbicide application. SL dry matter production was much higher when planted alone/herbicide. The dry weight of weeds was lower in SL alone/herbicide, but was not significantly different from the other treatments. The ADODR communicated with FVSU at meetings (October 2011, Fort Valley, GA; May 2011, Langston, OK) and by weekly email and phone conversations.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) 1) Examine the use of sericea lespedeza and other condensed tannin- containing plants, as fresh or dried forage (hay, pellets), for gastrointestinal nematode control in sheep and goats; 2) Examine alternative forage systems for grass-fed small ruminants to decrease gastrointestinal nematode infection and increase weight gains; 3) Test integrated, forage-based gastrointestinal nematode control systems for grass-fed small ruminant production on-farm; and 4) Complete impact assessment of non-chemical gastrointestinal nematode control techniques on small ruminant producers. Approach (from AD-416) 1) Sericea lespedeza will be established and the dried product pelleted and integrated into management strategies for the control of gastrointestinal nematodes. 2) Alternative high quality forages will be established, and control of gastrointestinal nematodes and weight gains of lambs and kids will be examined on continuous and rotational grazing systems. 3) On-farm trials to evaluate the establishment and use of tannin-rich plants (grazing and processed) with integrated control methods for parasite control in sheep and goats will be conducted, and economic analysis of various systems will be examined. 4) Effectiveness of workshops, including adoption and use of FAMACHA technology and other non-chemical GIN control techniques by producers, will be assessed using post-workshop survey instruments. Scientists determined that establishment of Haemonchus contortus was reduced in goats fed sericea lespedeza leaf meal compared with chopped bermudagrass hay, but there was no effect on mature or established worms except for a reduction in fecundity of female worms. The ADODR communicated with FVSU at meetings (February 2010, Orlando, FL; May 2010, Auburn, AL) and by weekly email and phone conversations.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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