Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and weight changes in semi-intensively managed savanna brown goats fed supplemental maize and mineral supplement

Abstract

The study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and weight changes in semi-intensively managed savanna grown goats of different ages fed supplemental maize bran and mineral supplement in Karshi, Abuja. The experiment design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) using 3 treatments having 3 replicates. Eighteen (18)experimental animals weighing between 17-12kg and their ages ranging between 1-6months, 7-12months and 12 months 12 months and above were used. T1 were without supplement.T2 were supplemented with 1kg of maize bran daily for 12 weeks but without salt lick while T3 were supplemented with 1kg of maize bran daily and salt lick. The faecal samples were examined weekly using floatation method and sedimentation techniques for the presence of helmiths. The parasites isolated were Ostertagia spp, Strongyloids sp, Trichuris sp and Schistoma sp, respectively. The animal fed supplemental diets (T2 andT3) had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain at week 8, 11 and 12 than T1. It is recommended that public awareness programme be step upim the study area on the zoonotic importance of the parasites isolated and that livestock farmers be adequately sensitized to the effective use of maize bran and mineral supplementation during the dry season period when feed resources are very scarce.