Management of roundworms in sheep and goats - KALRO · Management of roundworms in sheep and goats...
Transcript of Management of roundworms in sheep and goats - KALRO · Management of roundworms in sheep and goats...
Management of roundworms in sheep and goats
Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteP.O. Box 57811-00200, NAIROBI.
Tel: 254-20-4183301-20, Fax: 254-20-4183344Email: [email protected]
Website: www. kari.org
Compiled by: Mugambi, J.M. Nginyi J.M. and Rugutt, M.K.
For more information contact:
Centre Director, KARI Muguga North
P.O BOX 32 Kikuyu, 00902 Tel: (066) 32106/7, 32000
Fax: (066) 32450E Mail: [email protected]
KARI information brochure series / 26 /2008 Ksh. 20
• Treat sick animals and all animals when grass has
browned in the dry season to prevent chronic
disease.
• Use a drug that will also kill the dormant larvae and
repeat treatment a week into the rains.
• Supplementation with medicated urea molasses
feed blocks will boost nutritional status apart from
enhancing treatment.
Pale eye
Life cycle of round worms
What other management practices can minimise worm infestations?
• If animals are fed indoors, keep them on a slatted
fl oor.
• Construct feed and water troughs on the wall to
avoid contamination.
• Feed animals adequate quantities of quality feed
• De-worm newly purchased animals 48hr before
bringing them into your farm.
• If possible rear animals that are known to be resistant
to worms.
How frequently should animals be treated?
This depends on the climatic and other factors prevailing
in your locality.
Coastal strip and lake regions • Eggs develop to infective larvae very rapidly but high
temperatures kill them within a month.
• Treat all animals just before the rains and at other
times treat sick animals only.
• Tethering and moving animals to new sites every 3-4
days is effective rotation.
Arid and semi-arid areas• During the dry seasons swallowed larvae may
become dormant and resume development when
the rains come.
• Some periods of the year are too dry for larvae to
survive on pasture but watering points and bomas
are areas of high contamination.
• Use correct dose – based either on individual weight
or on weight of the heaviest animal in the fl ock.
• Drench over the tongue for maximum drug
availability especially in the morning before animals
feed.
• In cases of resistance give two full doses at a 12hr
interval.
• Dose goats at 1.5 times the dose of sheep.
What are some of the draw-backs even after
effective treatment?
Stocking rate • More than 5 animals grazed in an acre of pasture
enhance contamination leading to frequent re-
infections.
Ineffective rotation • Pasture rotation is very effective for worm control
since it reduces re-infection.
Communal watering sites and roadside
grazing • These are constant sources of infection
IntroductionRoundworms of sheep and goats live in the stomach,
small and large intestines.
They lay eggs that are passed out in droppings to
develop into effective larvae on pasture.
They depress body weight by 1-3kg for every 10kg.
How to identify animals with worms
• Dullness and loss of appetite
• Scruffy hair coat
• Paleness inside the eyelids – not the normal pink
• A pendulous swelling under the lower jaw – ‘bottle-
jaw’
• Poor body condition
• Diarrhea (This may be absent depending on the
parasite)
• Death in severe cases.
Why effective treatment?
• Effective treatment will contribute to:
• Healthy animals
• Little pasture contamination
• Slow or no development of drug resistance
How to achieve effective treatment
Treat to break the parasites life-cycle.
Parasitic worms
Coastal strip and lake regions Drenching sheep