Gastrointestinal (GI) nematodosis is one of the major and widespread problems in rearing of goats affecting the health and productivity (Akerejola et al., 1979). Mortality, reduced weight and other production losses could be minimized if better managemental and GI parasite control measures were regularly adopted in goats (Beriajaya et al., 1986; Singh et al., 1987). Limited information on the effect of controlling mixed nematodes infection in goats during pregnancy is available (Akerejola et al., 1979 and Bariajaya et al., 1986) which prompted the authors to take up the comparitive study on kids born of parasitised and parasite-free pregnant goats.

Twelve Black Bengal goats in early stage of pregnancy having single or mixed natural infections with two or more of the common GI nematodes (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Trichuris and Strongyloides spp.) were grouped (1 and 2, 6 in each) and housed in separate pens. The goats of group 1 were rendered parasite-free by treatment with morantel citrate alongwith by treatment with morantel citrate alongwith supporting therapy like astringents, liver stimulants, mineral supplements, antibiotics, etc., as per need up to kidding, while the goats of group 2 were kept as untreated control. The kids born of those goats were also maintained separately on mother’s milk and some amount of balanced ration up to weaning. The average litter weight, weekly litter weight gain and/or loss, and mortality up to 10th week (weaning period) were recorded.

The average litter weights of the parasite treated goats (Group 1) and untreated (Group 2) pregnant goats were non-significant. Similar trend in the growth rate of kids born of both the groups was observed up to 7th week while the litter found to be significantly (P < 0.05) increased during 8th to 10th weeks (Table 1). An average of 27.27% mortality was noted in kids born of untreated control goats. The poor health conditions of these pregnant goats had decreased haemoglobin (9.07†0.06) and packed cell volume (PCV) (27.17†0.31) values in the blood during the period due to GI parasites indicated direct bearing on their health during pregnancy. In a study on pregnant pigs, the piglets born of parasitised pregnant sows were found to have reduced vitality, poor health and higher mortality (Sangeeta, 2001) as observed also in the present study. Similar observations in goats were also made by Beriajaya et al. (1986) and Hardayani and Gatenby (1988). The results of the present study reaffirm that GI nematodosis cause substantial economic losses by way of reduced litter growth rate and increased mortality of the kids.

References