Search

Efforts to mitigate production losses in small stock due to nematode infestation have birthed the emergence of several control methods as alternatives to chemical-based anthelmintics or to complement them. This results from the recent development of multiple resistance by many parasitic nematodes to anthelmintic drugs. Many of these complementary alternatives, such as breeding resistance, grazing land management, use of predators, and vaccines, have shown the potential to alleviate this menace. Still, some are expensive or require a lot of technicalities. Controlling nematode infestation using natural feed additives has demonstrated effectiveness on the disease under natural conditions. Natural feed additives are environmentally friendly and often do not have health implications for animals and humans. They are readily available, especially to poor-resource farmers; some could be relatively cheap. Therefore, this article reviews the use of naturally available alternative anthelmintics such as plant extracts, clay, microbes, herbs, spices, and organic acids in mitigating the impacts of nematode infestations in small ruminant production.

The abundance of fruit waste from the food industry and wineries, particularly peels, seeds, and other fruit pomace throughout the year, could lead to health and environmental hazards if not channelled into productive areas. Improving or transforming these waste products for better use in other vital sectors could be achieved via solid-state fermentation (SSF) since most waste products are solid. One such productive and important area is the feeding of livestock, which will guarantee millennium food security goals for many nations of the world. The nutritional and antioxidant composition of abundantly available fruit pomace and agro-industrial byproducts could be improved via solid-state fermentation for overall livestock productivity. They contain substantial dietary fibre, protein, and phenolic compounds; hence, improving them via fermentation could serve the livestock industry in dual capacities, including nutraceutical and conventional feedstuff. This review seeks to provide reinforcing evidence on the applicability and impact of fruit pomaces on livestock nutrition. The significant nutrient improvements, beneficial outcomes in feeding trials, and inconsistencies or areas of research gap were also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited water intake affects livestock. Though small ruminants are more resilient to suboptimum water intake compared to other species of livestock, tolerance abilities differ among breeds. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of water deprivation levels on intake, growth performance and nutritional status of Nguni goats. Thirty-six Nguni goats (initial weight, 18 ± 3.2 kg) were assigned to one of three treatments: without water deprivation, water deprivation for 24 and 48 h in a completely randomised design for 40 days. Performance traits, body condition score (BCS), faecal egg count (FEC) and FAffa MAlan CHArt (FAMACHA) were determined weekly while blood metabolites were determined on the last day of the experiment and analysed with PROC GLM of SAS software. The average daily water intake (WI) and feed intake (FI) increased (p <.05) with increased period of water deprivation. The average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) declined (p <.01) with increased period of water deprivation. Final body weight, BCS and FAMACHA decreased (p <.05) while faecal egg count, glucose and creatine increased (p <.05) with increased period of water deprivation. Water deprivation period had negative correlations with ADFI, WFR, ADG, FCR, FAMACHA, BCS and BW. The correlation of BW was negative with FEC and positive with serum glucose. It was concluded that water deprivation impacts negatively on the nutritional status, blood metabolites and growth performance of Nguni goats. Limited water intake in small ruminants decreases body weight and body condition score. Rehydration, after prolonged dehydration of 48 h in small ruminants, results in increased average daily water and feed intake. Under dehydration effect, bodyweight positively correlates with body condition scores and negatively correlates with faecal egg count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]