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Anorexia and food utilization in nematode infected lambs on pasture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

S. M. Thamsborg  and
N. Agergaard
S. M. Thamsborg*
Affiliation:
Organic Animal Health and Production, Department of Animal Science and Animal Health, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Grønnegårdsvej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
N. Agergaard
Affiliation:
Grønnegårdsvej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Department of Animal Health and Welfare, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, PO Box 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
*
E-mail:smt@kvl.dk
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Abstract

The influence of naturally acquired nematode infections on food intake and utilization was investigated in grazing lambs. It was first demonstrated in a pilot study with penned lambs that the application of chrome-oxide in a ruminal bolus could be used for comparison of food intake in infected and uninfected lambs on grass. In a field trial, repeated in two consecutive seasons, 48 lambs grazed on clover grass in six groups. Three stocking rate groups were grazed on contaminated pastures (I-low, I-medium and I-high) and three groups on clean pastures (U-low, U-medium and U-high). Faecal dry-matter (DM) output of individual lambs was estimated in August each year by the chrome-method. DM intake and food conversion efficiency were calculated based on hand-picked herbage samples and in vitro assessment of digestibility. Substantial worm burdens, increasing from year 1 to year 2, were observed and some lambs had clinical symptoms in the 2nd year. In year 2, lambs on contaminated pastures had significantly lower DM intake (proportionately 009 lower), higher faecal protein losses and lower food conversion efficiency compared with the uninfected lambs on clean pastures. The effect of infection on food intakes was eliminated if corrected for body weight. The study showed that if exposure to nematode infections is large enough, increased protein losses in faeces and anorexia may contribute to reduced performance in lambs in late season.

Keywords

anorexiafood intakenematodaprotein intakesheepstocking rate
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 75 , Issue 2 , October 2002 , pp. 303 - 313
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2002

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