Changes in live-weight gain, blood constituents and worm egg counts in thai native and cross-bred goats raised in village environments in southern Thailand

• Published in: Asian-australasian journal of animal sciences Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 241 - 247
• Main Author: Kochapakdee, S. (Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai (THailand). Small Ruminant Research and Development Center, Faculty of Natural Resources)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01-06-1995
• Subjects: CAPRIN; CAPRINOS; ENVIRONMENT; ENVIRONNEMENT; GOATS; GROWTH RATE; INDICE DE CRECIMIENTO; MEDIO AMBIENTE; PARASITE; PARASITES; PARASITOS; PUEBLOS; TAUX DE CROISSANCE; VILLAGE; VILLAGES; Thai Goats; Live-weight Gain; Parasites; Cross-breds; Village Environments
• ISSN: 1011-2367; 1976-5517

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of internal parasites on growth rates of Thai Native (TN) and crossbred (75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian, AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN) goats (undrenched, drenched every 3 weeks or at 9 weeks) in village environments in southern Thailand in a humid tropical climate. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in growth rate ($g/kg^{0.75}/d$) between the genotypes during unsupplemented grazing (0-64 days of the experimental period). However, during supplementary feeding (64-127 days) and throughout the period (0-127 days) TN goats had significantly (p < 0.01) lower growth rates compared with 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN goats. There was no (p > 0.05) significant difference in growth rates between 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50 % AN goats. The growth rates of goats drenched every 3 weeks were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those undrenched or drenched at 9 weeks. The results of this study also indicate that drenching alone did not result in increased weight gain except when the nutritional status was also improved. Parasitic infection affected some blood constituents, such as pack cell volume, haemoglobin, total protein and albumin. This resulted in lower growth rates for control groups and goats drenched at 9 weeks compared to those of goats drenched every 3 weeks.