Not AvailableEffect ofincreaseddietaryproteinsupplyonrepeated Haemonchuscontortus infection
was assessedingrowingnativeChoklalambsinthesemi-aridRajasthanstateofIndia.
In a2 3 factorialdesign,48Choklalambs(4–5mo,14.971.0 kg)weredistributedin
two maingroups(24animalseach),control(C)andinfected(I)andwerefedon
completediets(at3%ofliveweight(LW))withthreelevelsofprotein(CP,g/kgdry
matter)high(HP;150),moderate(MP115)andlow(LP;95),thusconstitutingsix
treatmentgroupsHPC,HPI,MPC,MPI,LPCandLPIhavingeightanimalseach.Lambsof
infectedgroupsweredrenchedwith200infectivelarvae(L3)/kgLWafteronemonthof
experimentalfeeding,andsubsequentlywith300L3/kgLWthreetimesaweekfor13
consecutiveweeks.Theexperimentlastedfor21weekswithrecordoffeedintakeand
weeklyLWchangealongwithcollectionofbloodandfaecalsamplesforanalysis.Body
conditionscore(BCS)ofanimalswererecordedattheendofinfectionregime.A
digestibilitytrialwasconductedduring13weeksofinfectiontoassessplaneof
nutrition.Themortalitywasgreaterandadverseclinicalsignssuchasinappetance,
weightlossandsubmandibularoedemaweremorefrequentintheLPIgroup.TheLPI
group alsohadmoresevereanaemia,hypoproteinaemiaandhypoalbumenaemia.
Faecaleggcounts,wormburden,establishmentoflarvaeandfecunditywerenot
significantly(P40.05) differentbetweenthegroupsofinfectedlambs.However,higher
proteinlevelsinthedietenhancedfeedandnutrientintakeandsupportedhigherLW
gain withbetterfeedefficiencyandimprovedBCS.Itmaythusbeconcludedthatlambs
on LPdietwerelessabletowithstandthepatho-physiologicaleffectsof H. contortus
than lambsonMPandHPdiets.Not Availabl
