1. Sustainable Control of Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats Thomas Terrill Fort Valley State University Fort Valley, GA

3. Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center Goat research programs Product technology –Meat, milk, cheese Nutrition and feeding –Forages Reproduction Breeding (sheep and goats) Biotechnology Health –Parasitology

5. Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC)

6. SCSRPC- International Members

7. SCSRPC Members - Disciplines Parasitologists Forage Agronomists Plant breeders Animal Nutritionists Animal Scientist/Extension Specialists Research/Extension Veterinarians Agricultural Economists Producers

8. USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Projects Sustainable Control of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminants in the Southeastern USA (SARE Planning Grant) Novel Approaches to Sustainable Control of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminants (SARE R & E) Smart Drenching and FAMACHA Integrated Training for Sustainable Control of Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Small Ruminants (SARE PDP) Novel methods for sustainable control of gastrointestinal nematodes in llamas and alpacas in the southeastern United States (SARE Graduate Student)

9. INTRODUCTION  Small ruminants (goats and sheep) provide a major source of animal protein throughout the world  Nematode parasites are a serious constraint to economic small ruminant production

10. INTRODUCTION  GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES  Trichostrongylus colubriformis  Cooperia spp  Ostertagia circumcincta  Haemonchus contortus

12. Haemonchus contortus (Barber Pole Worm)  Sheep, goats, deer, exotic ruminants  Blood-sucking parasite –highly pathogenic –causes severe anemia –causes low blood protein -- “bottle jaw”  Most important parasite in sheep/goats raised in warm/wet environments –Southern USA

14. Life Cycle of H. contortus http://www.ext.vt.edu /pubs/sheep/410- 027/figure1.html

17. Parents Selection for Drug Resistance Resistant Susceptible Next Generation Resistant Drug Treatment

18. CONTROL MEASURES Anthelmintics  Multiple anthelmintic resistance in small ruminant GIN is a major problem in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Great Britain, USA  Cost of anthelmintics  Concerns over drug residues in meat and milk products  Environmental concerns

19. CONTROL MEASURES Strategic deworming  Smart drenching  FAMACHA

20. Selective Treatment Parasites are not equally distributed in groups of animals –~20 % of animals harbor most of the worms responsible for most of egg output Number of Worms Freq

21. How Does FAMACHA Work ??? Since primary impact of H. contortus is anemia, one can indirectly measure parasite burden (and need for treatment) by measuring anemia

22. The FAMACHA © System Eye color chart with five color categoriesEye color chart with five color categories Compare chart with color of mucous membranes of sheep or goatCompare chart with color of mucous membranes of sheep or goat Classification into one of five color categories:Classification into one of five color categories: 1 – not anemic1 – not anemic 5 -- severely anemic5 -- severely anemic

23. Advantages of Using FAMACHA Reduced deworming costs Slow development of anthelmintic resistance Identification of most susceptible animals for culling

24. SCSRPC Activities - FAMACHA Validated use of the FAMACHA system for sheep and goats in the USA, US Virgin Islands (Kaplan et al., 2004; Burke et al., 2007) FAMACHA workshops –Over 550 throughout the USA, USVI, and Puerto Rico since 2004 –Over 12,000 cards sold for on-farm use

25. ALTERNATIVE CONTROL MEASURES  Vaccines  Resistance/Tolerance  Nematode-trapping fungi  Copper oxide wire particles  Use of forages/plants

26. HERBAL MEDICINE  Plant compounds with in vitro and in vivo activity against Haemonchus contortus –Alkaloids –Triterpenoids –Benzyl isothiocyanate –Allicin –Oleanolic acid –Condensed tannins

27. BENEFICAL EFFECTS OF CONDENSED TANNINS  Increased net absorption of EAAs  Increased wool growth and growth rate  Increased liveweight gain  Higher ovulation rate  Higher milk yield  Reduced bloat  Reduced detrimental effects of internal parasites

28. CT-CONTAINING FORAGES  Cool season legumes –Sulla –Birdsfoot trefoil –Big trefoil –Sainfoin  Warm-season legumes –Sericea lespedeza

29. CONDENSED TANNINS IN FORAGES  Vary in concentration –Alfalfa (none) –Birdsfoot trefoil (2-3 %) –Big trefoil (4-5 %) –Sericea lespedeza (6-7 %) –Canary clover (14%)  Vary in reactivity –Birdsfoot trefoil CT (low reactivity) –Sericea lespedeza CT (high reactivity)

30. Sericea lespedeza  Perennial warm-season legume  High in condensed tannins  Tolerant to low pH (4.5)  Grows well on infertile soils

31. Sericea lespedeza Distribution

33. SERICEA LESPEDEZA STUDIES: OBJECTIVES  Study effects of sericea lespedeza hay on GIN infection in goats  Determine level of sericea lespedeza hay needed to control parasitic nematodes in goats  Investigate effect of pelleting on anthelmintic properties of sericea lespedeza hay

34. Fecal Egg Counts Pre-trialTrial

35. Packed Cell Volume Pre-trialTrial period

36. % Larval survival in fecal cultures Pre trialTrial period

37. Effects on Adult Worm Species

38. FEC

40. Conclusions  Feeding SL hay to goats decreased FEC & improved PCV compared to BG hay  Feeding SL hay reduced total worm count in both abomasum and small intestine of goats  Optimum level of SL hay in the diet for reducing effects of GIN in goats is 50-75%.  Pelleting does not reduce the efficacy of sericea lespedeza hay against parasitic nematodes

42. Growth rate of growing goats

43. Blood Urea Nitrogen levels

44. Conclusions Sericea lespedeza hay reduced parasitic infection levels and increased animal performance (ADG) of growing goats Condensed tannins in SL increased protein utilization efficiency in the animal

45. Future Research with Sericea Lespedeza for Parasite Control Grazing trials with sheep and goats –Pure stands –In combination with other forages –SL as deworming paddock Research with SL as dried feed –Leaf meal, pellets –Ingredient in complete feeds –Pasture supplement –Component of TMR for feedlot, confinement feeding –Beef and dairy cattle, dairy goats, llamas and alpacas, zoo animals

46. Future Research with Sericea Lespedeza for Parasite Control Establishment for organic small ruminant production On-farm trials –SL establishment for hay and grazing –Use of SL grazing, hay feeding for parasite control in combination with FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles

47. On-going Medicinal Plant Research Evaluation of CT-containing forage and browse species for parasite control Screening for extractable and bound CT in different forage/browse species Screening for in vitro anthelmintic activity (larval motility, egg hatch assays) Screening for in vivo anthelmintic activity (gerbils, goats, sheep)

48. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) have been used to treat copper deficiency COWP become lodged in the abomasum resulting in expulsion or death of the adult nematode COWP have been used in sheep and goats to reduce GIN in the animal COWP

49. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) Commercially available as a 25g bolus to treat copper deficiency in cattle (Copasure, Animax Ltd, Stanton, UK)

52. TRIAL PERIODPOST-TRIAL PERIOD

53. TRIAL PERIODPOST-TRIAL PERIOD

55. Conclusions COWP effective against parasitic worms in both lambs and kids COWP more effective against abomasal than small intestinal worms More effective in young stock than older animals No signs of Cu toxicity, but greater concern with sheep

56. Future Research and Outreach Activities of the SCSRPC Continued development and evaluation of alternative (non-chemical) parasite control technologies Integrate selective treatment (FAMACHA) with novel control methods (COWP, CT forages) for on-farm testing with small ruminants Application of these principles to other livestock species (cattle, horses, llamas & alpacas, zoo animals) Development of organic small ruminant production systems

57. Future Research and Outreach Activities of the SCSRPC Continue FAMACHA and Smart Drenching producer workshops ‘Train the trainer’ workshops on sustainable parasite control Continue expansion of SCSRPC web site to include more producer-friendly publications Impact assessment of FAMACHA, novel parasite control techniques Economic analysis of sustainable parasite control systems for small ruminants

58. RESOURCES Information on small ruminant parasite control –SCSRPC.org –WormX.org Seed source for ‘AUGrazer’ sericea lespedeza –Sims Brothers Seed Company, Union Springs, AL (334-738-2619; simsbrothers.com)

59. Acknowledgements USDA-SAREUSDA-SARE Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite ControlSouthern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley State University

60. Any Questions ?