Nutritional enhancement of parasite control in small ruminant production systems in developing countries of south-east Asia and the Pacific

Nutritional insufficiency and gastrointestinal nematode parasitism are major constraints to small ruminant production in south-east Asia and the Pacific Islands. Research on the effects of low cost supplements which supply nitrogen and essential minerals on the ability of small ruminants to resist infection is summarised. In controlled pen studies in young Merino sheep offered a low quality roughage diet of oaten chaff and essential minerals, supplementation with urea reduced the effects of parasitic infection by increasing weight gain and wool production and reducing faecal egg output and parasite burden. In Fiji, field studies have shown that supplementation with urea-molasses blocks can result in increased live-weights of lambs at weaning, increased reproduction rates in maiden ewes and reduction in faecal egg output in grazing sheep. Additional benefits were derived from the inclusion of anthelmintic in the blocks in similar groups of sheep particularly during periods of greater susceptibility to parasites. Pen studies with young goats have shown that urea supplements alone gave no production benefits, but when accompanied by 100 g/d of cotton seed meal beneficial responses were observed. It is expected that parasite control in the small ruminant production systems of developing countries in south-east Asia and the Pacific Islands will benefit from the introduction of low cost nitrogen supplements along with anthelmintic therapy delivered strategically by molasses blocks.