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Summary
In South Africa , resource-poor farmers, most of whom are women, complain that their goats "don't multiply" and .that worms are a major cause of animal death.
As many of these women have no employment their goats could be a much better source of income if better feeding and use of drugs to control worms could be found.
This could have a significant effect on the livelihoods of large poor families where the males often have to live in urban areas to find work.
This project aims to identify and disseminate information on simple ways of feeding animals and protecting goats against worms so that their owners have more to eat and surplus to sell.
The scientists started with an on-station trial the results of which will then be tested by a farmers group. The impact on the community is being measured and an extension manual being produced in appropriate languages with the help of local goat farmers.
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| Primary Relevance |
Low - High |
| Feeding and Nutrition |
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| Animal Health |
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| Commodities and Markets |
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| Other Husbandry |
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| Policy Relevance |
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Documents
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The cost-benefit analysis indicated that dry-season, winter supplementation of Boer goats with urea-molasses blocks from June to August without strategic anthelmintic treatment, was associated with a six per cent increase in carcase value over the corresponding controls. This equated to US$ 3.24 per animal which was considered economically viable and worthwhile. This strategy is, therefore, recommended for use in extensively reared goats in the summer rainfall area of South Africa, provided nematode challenge is low and individual goats are treated when symptoms of nematode infection (anaemia) are noted. A simple practical way of assessing whether or not an animal is anaemic is through the application of the FAMACHA© system.
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Related Projects
| R5526 |
Anthelminthic resistant nematodes in the Third
World |
| R4901 |
Helminth zoonoses |
| R6561 |
To examine the use of IgA for quantifying the influence of
nutrition on the immune response of small ruminants to gastro-intestinal nematode parasites. |
| R7798 |
Use of tanniniferous feeds to improve smallholder goat production: Project to link R7424 (Tanzania), R7351 (Zimbabwe) and R6953 (India) to increase dissemination, outputs and impact |
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Additional References and Links
| Vatta, A. F., Letty, B. A., van der Linde, M. J., van Wijk, E. F., Hansen, J. W. and Krecek, R. C. (2001). Testing for clinical anaemia caused by Haemonchus spp. in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa using an eye colour chart developed for sheep. Veterinary Parasitology 99(1): 1-14 |
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Vatta A.F., Krecek R.C., Letty B.A., van der Linde M.J., Grimbeek R.J., de Villiers J.F., Motswatswe P.W., Molebiemang G.S., Boshoff H.M., and Hansen J.W. (2002). Incidence of Haemonchus spp. and effect on haematocrit and eye colour in goats farmed under resource-poor conditions in South Africa. Veterinary Parasitology 103(1): 119-131
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Van Wyka, J.A. and Bath, G.F. (2002). The FAMACHA© system for managing haemonchosis in sheep and goats by clinically identifying individual animals for treatment. Vet. Res. 33: 509-529
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