scholarly journals Mixed Grazing and Dietary Supplementation Improve the Response to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasitism and Production Performances of Goats

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Christophe Bambou ◽  
Willy Ceï ◽  
Rémy Arquet ◽  
Valériuse Calif ◽  
Bruno Bocage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematode ◽  
Fecal Egg Count ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Nematode Parasitism ◽  
Animal Performances

Small ruminants are very affected by gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasitism worldwide. The improvement of the host protective response and the reduction of the probability of contact between hosts and parasites appear as very promising strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of two components of these two strategies on natural GIN infection and production performances of Creole goat kids: dietary supplementation and a rotational mixed grazing system. One hundred and twenty weaned Creole kids and six Creole heifers were divided into four experimental batches: Splus (supplemented) vs. Szero (non-supplemented) × Mixed grazing (kids associated with heifers) vs. Control (kids alone), and grazing plots of forage grasses were balanced for live weight (LW) in both species. The feed intake, blood, and parasitological parameters and production performances between 3 and 11 months of age were monitored. The fecal egg count (FEC) was significantly lower and the packed cell volume (PCV) significantly higher in the Mixed grazing groups. No effect of supplementation was observed for FEC. In contrast, PCV, body condition score, and live weight were significantly higher in supplemented animals whatever the groups. Mixed grazing system and supplementation had significant effects on the slaughter parameters (P < 0.05), but there was no significant interaction. Our results suggested that the advantage driven either by mixed grazing or dietary supplementation on kids' performances would be equivalent, and the combination of both would improve the animal performances.

Body Condition Score for Monitoring the Performance and Health of Small Ruminants in Field Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Uma Karki ◽  
Anand Tiwari ◽  
Kendra Norwood ◽  
Ja’Nia Johnson ◽  
Lila B Karki
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Performance Variables ◽  
Fecal Egg Count ◽  
Meat Goats ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract Frequent inspection and provision for necessary care are of prime importance for sustainable production and improving the wellbeing of small ruminants. Most small-ruminant farmers are small-scale, with limited resources, and do not have facilities needed for routine evaluation and intensive care of animals. The identification of a predictive variable of animal health and wellbeing would be useful for small ruminant management in field conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the relation of body condition score to other health parameters in meat goats and hair sheep. Performance data (live weight, body condition score (BCS – 1–5: 1- very thin, 5 - obese), and FAMACHA (a 5-color chart used to monitor anemic condition in small ruminants caused by barber pole worm; score - 1–5: 1–2- not anemic, 5 - extremely anemic) of meat goats (Kiko) and hair sheep (Katahdin and Katahdin-St. Croix cross) were collected from different grazing studies conducted from 2015 to 2020 (15) and similar data plus hoof condition (1–3: 1-good, no trimming required; 2 – trimming required; 3 – trimming and additional care required) collected from farmers’ field (6; animals in a herd/flock ranged from 15 to 65) in 2020 were used in this study. Data from each study and for each animal species were analyzed separately for correlation among the performance variables in SAS 9.4, with alpha value set at 0.05. Except for few data sets, correlations between BCS and FAMACHA were negative and significant (P < 0.05) with correlation coefficient (r) ranging from -0.18 to -0.64. BCS was positively correlated with live weight (P < 0.05, r = 0.15–0.76) in most of the studies. In one study, which also included fecal egg count for the quantification of gastrointestinal parasites along with other animal performance variables, BCS was negatively correlated with the total fecal egg count (P < 0.0001, r=-0.38). BCS showed negative correlation with hoof score in goats (P < 0.001, r=-0.33). Results show that BCS can be used as a predictor for small-ruminant health, especially in field conditions where other evaluation methods are not available.

scholarly journals 178 Use of silvopastures and woodlands to expand the grazing opportunity for small ruminants

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 67-68
Author(s):  
Uma Karki
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Limited Resource ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Vegetation Biomass ◽  
Meat Goats ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Pasture-based small-ruminant farming is a popular enterprise in the Southeast, especially for small and limited-resource producers. Although woodlands occupy a majority of the land cover in the South and can be a promising resource for raising small ruminants, not much attention has been given on using such resources. A series of studies were conducted at the facilities of Tuskegee University with the overall objective of exploring the potential of using silvopastures and woodlands for raising small ruminants. Grazing studies were conducted from 2015 to 2019 using meat goats and hair sheep in silvopastures and woodland plots. Silvopastures were developed by thinning down the existing woodlands and planting suitable cool- and warm-season forages. Grazing facilities were installed in the study plots and animals were rotationally stocked each year during both cool- and warm-season grazing periods. In 2017, non-pine plants in woodlands were cut to three different heights (ground level and 0.9 m and 1.5 m from the ground level) or left uncut (control) to see the effects on understory vegetation biomass production and utilization by small ruminants. Data on vegetation biomass and quality, canopy height, animal performance and behavior, browsing height, and vegetation preference were collected and analyzed. Small ruminants were found to utilize all planted forages (silvopastures) well and most of the understory plants in woodlands. Vegetation biomass in woodlands increased in areas where non-pine plants were cut versus the control (36–106%; P < 0.0001). Mature animals maintained a desirable body condition score (≥2.6) and FAMACHA score (≤2.6) in woodlands. However, young, growing animals showed a poor live weight gain, especially during some portion of the study. Animals performed well when they were stocked in silvopastures. Both species showed a similar preference for most plant species available in woodlands. Results show a tremendous potential of using silvopastures and woodlands for expanding the grazing opportunity for small ruminants. However, the provision of some supplements would be necessary while stocking young animals in woodlands.

scholarly journals 92 Health and Performance of Ewes in Woodland and Silvopasture Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 16-16
Author(s):  
Nevershi Ellis ◽  
Uma Karki ◽  
Bidur Paneru ◽  
Lila B Karki
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Fecal Egg Count ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Grazing Lands

Abstract The health and performance of small ruminants can be influenced by the type of vegetation available in the grazing lands, which are evolving from conventional sole pastures to other systems containing browse species, such as pastures incorporated with browse, silvopastures, and woodlands. However, how the type of grazing lands would impact animal performance and health is not documented well. The objective of this study was to determine the health and performance of ewe lambs in southern-pine silvopastures and woodlands. The study site consisted of pine silvopastures (3 plots, 0.4-ha each) planted with different cool- and warm-season forages, and woodlands (3 plots, 0.4-ha each) having numerous understory shrubs and herbaceous species. Katahdin-St. Croix-cross ewe lambs (n = 20; live weight – 29.4±1.03 kg., 5–6 months old) were rotationally stocked in study plots (10 animals/system) from May to August 2019. Both silvopasture and woodland systems consisted of 14-year-old longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees. Animal performance data [live weight (LW), body condition score (BCS), FAMACHA score, and fecal egg count] were collected every 14 days and blood samples collected at the beginning and on day 80 after they were stocked in the study plots. Blood samples were analyzed for PVC using centrifuge machine and other parameters in IDEXX. Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance in SAS 9.4. The silvopasture ewes gained more weight versus the woodland ewes (P < 0.0001). Fecal egg count was correlated negatively with live weight and BCS and positively with FAMACHA score in both groups (P < 0.05). Woodland ewes showed greater levels of RBC, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte, but less blood urea nitrogen (BUN), monocyte, and basophil than silvopasture ewes (P < 0.05). Results indicate that woodland ewes may need some supplement to improve their weight gain and BUN.

Effects of nutrition in utero and in early life on the subsequent lifetime reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes in two management systems

1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
D. A. Sim ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
High Level

AbstractOver 3 years, a flock of Scottish Blackface ewes was managed so that one-third of the ewes received a high level of nutrition during the last 100 days of pregnancy (P), one-third received a high level of nutrition during the first 100 days of lactation (L) and one-third received a low level of nutrition as derived from a hill grazing over the same two periods (C). From these ewes, 496 ewe lambs were retained at weaning (19 to 22 weeks of age), balanced for treatment, year and birth type. At 6 months of age half of the lambs, similarly balanced, were transferred to an upland grazing system (U) for three breeding years. The other half was retained on the same hill grazing as their mothers for the same period (H). At the end of the study, all ewes were fed to reduce the range in body condition at a synchronized mating and ovulation rates were determined at slaughter.Differences in live weight of ewes due to treatment between groups P, L and C had disappeared by 18 months. There were no pre-mating differences between treatments in live weight or body condition score except that ewes in group P had higher live weights than those in group C at condition scores greater than 2·75. There was little effect of grazing system on the differences between treatments in live weight or body condition score at 30 and 42 months but H ewes were heavier and fatter at 18 months of age. Ewe mortality was consistently less in group L than in groups P and C and on system H than on system U, although the differences were not statistically significant. Group L had fewer barren ewes than groups P and C, and barrenness was significantly greater in the U than the H system. Group C had proportionally more single than multiple births than either groups P or L.At the end of the study there were no differences between the treatments in the proportion of ewes successfully mated at the final mating nor in their ovulation rates in relation to pre-mating body condition.It is concluded that nutrition during either the lactation period or late pregnancy period can influence subsequent lifetime reproductive performance and that this was expressed through an effect on embryo or foetal loss since there were neither residual differences apparent in live weight or condition score nor in ovulation rate potential.

scholarly journals 93 Health and Performance of Ewes in Woodland and Silvopasture Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 70-70
Author(s):  
Nevershi Ellis ◽  
Uma Karki ◽  
Bidur Paneru ◽  
Lila B Karki
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Fecal Egg Count ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Grazing Lands

Abstract The health and performance of small ruminants can be influenced by the type of vegetation available in the grazing lands, which are evolving from conventional sole pastures to other systems containing browse species, such as pastures incorporated with browse, silvopastures, and woodlands. However, how the type of grazing lands would impact animal performance and health is not documented well. The objective of this study was to determine the health and performance of ewe lambs in southern-pine silvopastures and woodlands. The study site consisted of pine silvopastures (3 plots, 0.4-ha each) planted with different cool- and warm-season forages, and woodlands (3 plots, 0.4-ha each) having numerous understory shrubs and herbaceous species. Katahdin-St. Croix-cross ewe lambs (n = 20; live weight – 29.4±1.03 kg., 5–6 months old) were rotationally stocked in study plots (10 animals/system) from May to August 2019. Both silvopasture and woodland systems consisted of 14-year-old longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees. Animal performance data [live weight (LW), body condition score (BCS), FAMACHA score, and fecal egg count] were collected every 14 days and blood samples collected at the beginning and on d 80 after they were stocked in the study plots. Blood samples were analyzed for PVC using centrifuge machine and other parameters in IDEXX. Data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance in SAS 9.4. The silvopasture ewes gained more weight versus the woodland ewes (P < 0.0001). Fecal egg count was correlated negatively with live weight and BCS and positively with FAMACHA score in both groups (P < 0.05). Woodland ewes showed greater levels of RBC, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte, but less blood urea nitrogen (BUN), monocyte, and basophil than silvopasture ewes (P < 0.05). Results indicate that woodland ewes may need some supplement to improve their weight gain and BUN.

scholarly journals PSI-18 Performance of kiko wethers and katahdin rams co-stocked in woodlands with diverse vegetation

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 261-261
Author(s):  
Bidur Paneru ◽  
Uma Karki ◽  
Nevershi Ellis ◽  
Shailes Bhattrai
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Southeast United States ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract Small ruminant production in the southeast United States is mainly pasture based and most of the producers are small scale. Woodland grazing is becoming familiar with the producers and can serve as an alternative grazing system in the Southeast. Some literature is available on the performance of matured goats and sheep stocked separately in woodlands. However, information is lacking on the performance of goats and sheep when co-grazed in woodlands. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of Kiko wethers and Katahdin rams co-stocked in woodlands. Eight Kiko wethers and five Katahdin rams (both mature) were co-stocked rotationally in three woodland plots (1-acre each) from mid-May to mid-October 2019. Each study plot had four different virtual sections with average vegetation-canopy height of 2.7 feet, 4.4 feet, 5.5 feet, and 5.7 feet (treatments) at the beginning of the study. Animals were stocked together in each plot and moved to the next plot when 50% of the available vegetation within animal’s reach was consumed. Animal performance data on live weight, body condition score (BCS) and FAMACHA score were collected before stocking animals in the study plots and every 14 days thereafter. Animal performance data were analyzed using GLM procedure with MANOVA options in SAS 9.4. Results showed that live weight of Kiko wethers ranged (163±5.9 - 177±5.9) lbs., body condition score ranged (2.4±0.09 - 3.4±0.09) and FAMACHA score ranged (2.0±0.08 - 2.4±0.08). Katahdin rams maintained live weight between (199±11.6 - 211±11.6) lbs., body condition score between (2.7±0.09 - 3.7±0.09) and FAMACH score between (1.8±0.12 - 2.2±0.12). BCS and FAMACHA score were in the normal range for grazing goats and sheep. Both animal species maintained satisfactory live weight, BSC and FAMACHA score in woodlands when co-stocked. Further study is needed to determine the performance of animals in higher nutritional demand.

The effect of ammonia treatment on the intake of straw and hay when offered with rations of concentrates to ewes in late pregnancy

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Orr ◽  
T. T. Treacher ◽  
V. C. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Ammonia Treatment ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Forage Intake

ABSTRACTFinnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes were offered 300, 600 or 900 g fresh weight per day of concentrates and forage ad libitum from day 105 of pregnancy until lambing. Spring barley straw (S) or hay (H) was offered either untreated (U) or following treatment with anhydrous ammonia in an oven (T). Organic matter digestibilities (in vitro) were 0·42, 0·58, 0·42 and 0·60 and nitrogen contents were 7·2, 18·6, 12·0 and 25·0 g/kg dry matter for US, TS, UH and TH respectively. Forage intake did not differ between ewes carrying two or more foetuses but the small number of ewes carrying one foetus ate more straw (6·8 v. 4·5 g organic matter (OM) per kg live weight) than ewes carrying two or more foetuses. Ammonia treatment increased intake; the increase was larger on straw (4·6 v. 100 g OM per kg live weight) than on hay (9·0 v. 10·7 g OM per kg live weight). Replacement rates of forage by concentrates were -0·21, +0·06, -0·48 and +0·08 kg forage per kg concentrates for treatments US, TS, UH and TH respectively; only the value for treatment UH differed significantly from zero. On most treatments forage intake decreased as pregnancy progressed and the declines were greater when treated forages were offered. Concentrate level had a large effect on most aspects of ewe performance. Ewes offered treated forage gained slightly more weight in pregnancy (138 v. 104 g/day), had a slightly smaller decrease in body condition score (-0·54 v. -0·68) between day 105 and lambing but did not have greater lamb birth weights than ewes on untreated forage.

Estimation in vivo of the chemical composition of the bodies of mature cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Deuterium Oxide ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Ultrasonic Measurements ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTA number of possible indices of body composition (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) was examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating, mature cows of Hereford × Friesian, Blue-Grey, British Friesian, Galloway and Luing genotypes, ranging in body condition score from 0·75 to 4·5. Direct measurements of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous fat depth and eyemuscle area, and body condition score were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition. Combinations of techniques offered better predictions than did any single index. Using a combination of measurements it was possible to predict body fat and protein with a residual s.d. of 13·1 kg and 3·15 kg respectively. Breed differences in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots necessitated the development of specific prediction equations for body fat based on condition score and subcutaneous fat depth for different breeds. Equations remain to be developed for predicting body composition in cows in different physiological states.

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