Effect of cassava ( Manihot esculenta) foliage on nutrition, parasite infection and growth of lambs

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 10 - 18
• Main Authors: Marie-Magdeleine, C., Mahieu, M., Philibert, L., Despois, P., Archimède, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-09-2010; [Amsterdam; New York, NY]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: ad libitum feeding; Agricultural sciences; Anthelmintic properties; cassava; Cassava leaves; crop residues; developmental stages; dosage; energy intake; fecal egg count; fecundity; Gastrointestinal nematodes; Growth; Haemonchus contortus; hay; lamb feeding; lambs; leaves; Life Sciences; liveweight gain; Manihot esculenta; nematode larvae; nutritional status; Nutritional values; polyethylene glycol; proanthocyanidins; Small ruminants; Gastrointestinal nematodes; Anthelmintic properties; Cassava leaves; Growth; Nutritional values; Small ruminants; nutritional value; growth; cassava leave; small ruminant; anthelmintic property; gastrointestinal nematode
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2010.04.024

The effects of feeding wilted cassava foliage (WCF) on the growth of Martinik lambs and the parasite
Haemonchus contortus (
Hc) were evaluated. Thirty 6-month-old Martinik lambs (body weight: 20.3
±
1.6
kg) were allocated to one of the three treatments. The basal diet consisted of
Dichanthium spp. hay
ad libitum plus cassava tuber (450
g/lamb/day). In addition, depending on the experimental treatment, they received alfalfa pellets (450
g/lamb/day) or WCF (650
g/lamb/day) or WCF (650
g/lamb/day)
+
PEG (25
g/lamb/day). At the beginning of the trial, each lamb was inoculated with a single dose of 10,000 third-stage larvae of
Hc.
The mean faecal egg count decreased by 41% in lamb fed WCF relative to the lucerne control level. Egg development to third-stage larvae was reduced by 60% when excreted by lambs fed on WCF compared to those fed on lucerne. Given the results obtained with animals receiving PEG, the positive effect of WCF on the reduction of
Hc parasites may be explained by the action of condensed tannins. The action of the latter on worm fertility is suspected. Due to the high fill value (ADL) relative to the lucerne diet, the consumption of WCF provides limited total energy intake (48.0
g
vs. 57.6
g of digestible dry matter per kg of metabolic weight) and has a depressive effect on lamb growth (120.8
g/d
vs. 163.5
g/d).