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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.

Acceptability of a diet is one factor that determines an animal’s growth performance. Some feed additives in the category of dietary clay, including fossil shell flour (FSF), have been identified to enhance performance of livestock. Therefore, the influence of varying inclusion levels of FSF supplementation on feed acceptability, body condition scores, and growth performance of Dohne Merino sheep was evaluated. Twenty-four Dohne Merino rams were completely randomised and individually housed in pens for 90 days. Four different supplementation levels of FSF (0, 20, 40, and 60g/kg) were considered treatments for the rams. The average daily feed intake, body condition score, average daily weight gain (g), and coefficient of preference were significantly higher in rams supplemented with 60 g FSF/kg than the other treatments (P < 0.05). The experimental diet colour was brown for 0 g FSF/kg, while in 20, 40, and 60 g FSF/kg, it ranged from light brown to slightly deep brown. The texture of diets with 0 g FSF/kg was moderately firm, while diets with 20, 40, and 60 g FSF/kg had a firm texture. The order of preference of diets supplemented with FSF in feed intake by Dohne Merino rams was: 60 g FSF/kg > 40 g FSF/kg > 20 g FSF/kg > 0 g FSF/kg. Therefore, FSF at a minimum inclusion level of 40 g FSF/kg can improve feed intake, body condition score, and feeding behaviour of Dohne Merino rams by increasing the acceptability of the diet.

This study examined strain, sex and slaughter weight effect on performance, meat quality and yield of broiler chicken. One hundred and fifty-day-old chicks (broilers) were distributed randomly in a 3 × 2 × 4 factorial experiment, with 50 birds per strain (Ross, Aboaca and Anak) and 25 birds per sex. After trial, 32 birds per strain and 16 per sex were slaughtered at 4 different body weights (1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 g) to determine carcass yield and meat quality. The results revealed significant strain and sex effect (P < 0.05) on growth performance of the broiler chicken. Ross strain had the highest feed intake (4883.25 g) and final body weight (2440.25 g) compared to Aboaca and Anak strains. Female broiler having heavier body weight (2431.66 g) and feed intake (4864.83 g) than the males for all strains. Aboaca birds had the highest carcass yields for all slaughter weight than Anak and Ross. The slaughter weight, irrespective sex and strains significantly influenced the carcass yield (P < 0.001) with birds slaughtered at 2,500 g having (P < 0.001) highest values compared to other slaughtered weights. As slaughter weight increases, cooking loss and thermal shortening decreases while water holding capacity and shear force values increases. Overall, Aboaca strain was considered to have best performances for production.