Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T18:37:01.377Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Growth and gastrointestinal nematode parasitism in lambs grazing either lucerne (Medicago sativa) or sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) which contains condensed tannins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. H. Niezen ,
T. S. Waghorn ,
W. A. G. Charleston  and
G. C. Waghorn
J. H. Niezen
Affiliation:
Ag Research Flock House Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 1900, Bulls, New Zealand
T. S. Waghorn
Affiliation:
Ag Research Flock House Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 1900, Bulls, New Zealand
W. A. G. Charleston
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. C. Waghorn
Affiliation:
Ag Research Grasslands, Private Bag 11030, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Two grazing experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effects of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) which contains condensed tannins (CT) and lucerne (Medicago sativa), which does not contain CT, on the performance of parasitized and non-parasitized lambs. The work was carried out near Palmerston North, New Zealand in 1992 and 1993.

Experiment 1 used lambs which were either genetically ‘conventional’ or ‘resistant’ to gastrointestinal nematodes and which had a naturally acquired heavy parasite burden (faecal egg count (FEC) 1300–2500 eggs per gram faeces (epg)). They were either drenched to remove all the parasites or remained undrenched when allocated to pure swards of either sulla or lucerne for the 28-day experimental period. Liveweight gains of drenched lambs were higher with sulla (mean 302 g/day) than with lucerne (mean 245 g/day; P < 0·02) and rates of gain were not reduced (P = 0·10) by genetic resistance to nematodes. Undrenched lambs had mean faecal egg counts of 1090–2220 epg after 28 days, with higher counts in lambs grazing lucerne than in those grazing sulla (P < 0·05). Lambs grazing lucerne also had a much lower average daily gain (ADG) (mean 50 g/day) than those grazing sulla (mean 206 g/day; P < 0·0001). Resistant lambs had reduced (P = 0·07) ADG in the sulla treatment only.

In Expt 2, lambs with a relatively low worm burden (average FEC 250 epg) were either drenched to remove all worms or dosed with 20 000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae and grazed on pure sulla or lucerne swards for 42 days. Drenched lambs had a similar liveweight gain (mean 190 g/day) and wool growth when grazing either sulla or lucerne. Undrenched lambs grazing sulla had a greater ADG (mean 129 g/day) than those grazing lucerne (mean −39 g/day; P < 0·0001) and a higher rate of wool growth from mid-side patches (P < 0·009) and larger wool fibre diameter (P < 0·05) than those grazing lucerne. Undrenched lambs grazing sulla had lower FECs (P < 0·05) on days 14, 21, 35 and 42 than those grazing lucerne and lower (P < 0·05) Trichostrongylus colubriformis worm burdens at slaughter. Undrenched lambs had less perineal faecal contamination when grazing sulla rather than lucerne. Parasite-induced anorexia was evident in the lambs grazing lucerne but not in those grazing sulla.

These findings demonstrate that the performance of lambs infected with nematode parasites can vary substantially when given feeds of a similar chemical composition. The superior performance of lambs grazing sulla was probably caused by condensed tannins, which decrease protein degradation in the rumen and can increase post-ruminal protein availability.

Type
Animals
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 125 , Issue 2 , October 1995 , pp. 281 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbott, E. M., Parkins, J. J. & Holmes, P. H. (1988). Influence of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of haemonchosis in lambs given continuous infections. Research in Veterinary Science 45, 41–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bisset, S. A., Vlassoff, A., Morris, C. A., Southey, B. R., Baker, R. L. & Parker, A. G. H. (1992). Heritability of and genetic correlations among faecal egg counts and productivity traits in Romney sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 35, 51–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bown, M. D., Poppi, D. P. & Sykes, A. R. (1991). The effect of post-ruminal infusion of protein or energy on the pathophysiology of Trichostronglylus colubriformis infection and body composition in lambs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42, 253–267.Google Scholar
Chandel, Y. S. & Mehta, P. K. (1990). Nematicidal properties of leaf extract of wild sage (Lantana camara). Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 60, 781.Google Scholar
Coop, R. L., Sykes, A. R. & Angus, K. W. (1982). The effect of three levels of intake of Ostertagia circumcincta larvae on growth rate, food intake and body composition of growing lambs. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 98, 247–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dynes, R. A., Ankersmit, A. E. L., Poppi, D. P., Barrell, G. K. & Sykes, A. R. (1990). Studies on the physiological basis of appetite depression in nematode infection in sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 50, 249–253.Google Scholar
Howse, S. W., Blair, H. T., Garrick, D. J. & Pomroy, W. E. (1992). A comparison of internal parasitism in fleeceweight-selected and control Romney sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 52, 57–60.Google Scholar
Jones, W. T. & Mangan, J. L. (1977). Complexes of the condensed tannins of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) with fraction 1 leaf protein and with submaxillary mucoprotein, and their reversal by polyethylene glycol and pH. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 28, 126–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimambo, A. E. & MacRae, J. C. (1988). Measurement in vitro of a larval migration inhibitory factor in gastrointestinal mucus of sheep made resistant to the roundworm Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Veterinary Parasitology 28, 213–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimambo, A. E., MacRae, J. C., Walker, A., Watt, C. F. & Coop, R. L. (1988). Effect of prolonged subclinical infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis on the performance and nitrogen metabolism of growing lambs. Veterinary Parasitology 28, 191–203.Google Scholar
National Research Council (1969). United States Canadian Tables of Feed Composition. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
Parker, W. J., McCutcheon, S. N. & Carr, D. H. (1989). Effect of herbage type and level of intake on the release of chromic oxide from intraruminal controlled release capsules in sheep. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 32, 537–546.Google Scholar
Poppi, D. P., MacRae, J. C., Brewer, A. & Coop, R. L. (1986). Nitrogen transactions in the digestive tract of lambs exposed to the internal parasite, Trichostrongylus colubriformis. British Journal of Nutrition 55, 593–602.Google Scholar
Roughan, P. G. & Holland, R. (1977). Predicting in-vivo digestibilities of herbages by exhaustive enzyme hydrolysis of cell walls. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 28, 1057–1064.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute (1987). SAS/STAT Guide for Personal Computers, Version 6. Cary, NC: SAS Inc.Google Scholar
Steel, J. W., Jones, W. O. & Symons, L. E. A. (1982). Effects of a concurrent infection of Trichostrongylus colubriformis on the productivity and physiological and metabolic responses of lambs infected with Ostertagia circumcincta. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 33, 131–140.Google Scholar
Swain, T. (1979). Tannins and lignins. In Herbivores: Their Interaction with Secondary Plant Metabolites (Eds Rosenthal, G. A. & Janzen, D. H.), pp. 657–682. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Sykes, A. R. & Coop, R. L. (1976). Intake and utilization of food by growing lambs with parasitic damage in the small intestine caused by daily dosing with Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae. Journal Agricultural Science, Cambridge 86, 507–515.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sykes, A. R., Poppi, D. P. & Elliot, D. C. (1988). Effect of concurrent infection with Ostertagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus colubriformis on the performance of growing lambs consuming fresh herbage. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 110, 531–541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, C. E. & Murant, A. F. (1966). Nematicidal activity of aqueous extracts from raspberry canes and roots. Nematologica 12, 488–494.Google Scholar
Terrill, T. H., Douglas, G. B., Foote, A. G., Purchas, R. W., Wilson, G. F. & Barry, T. N. (1992 a). Effect of condensed tannins upon body growth, wool growth and rumen metabolism in sheep grazing sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) and perennial pasture. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 119, 265–273.Google Scholar
Terrill, T. H., Rowan, A. M., Douglas, G. B. & Barry, T. N. (1992 b). Determination of extractable and bound condensed tannin concentrations in forage plants, protein concentrate meals and cereal grains. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 58, 321–329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waghorn, G. C., Ulyatt, M. J., John, A. & Fisher, M. T. (1987). The effect of condensed tannins on the site of digestion of amino acids and other nutrients in sheep fed on Lotus corniculatus L. British Journal of Nutrition 57, 115–126.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waghorn, G. C., Shelton, I. D. & McNabb, W. C. (1994 a). Effects of condensed tannins in Lotus pedunculatus on its nutritive value for sheep. 1. Nonnitrogenous aspects. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 123, 99–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waghorn, G. C., Shelton, I. D., McNabb, W. C. & McCutcheon, S. N. (1994 b). Effects of condensed tannins in Lotus pedunculatus on its nutritive value for sheep. 2. Nitrogenous aspects. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 123, 109–119.Google Scholar
Wang, Y., Waghorn, G. C., Douglas, G. B., Barry, T. N. & Wilson, G. F. (1994). The effects of condensed tannin in Lotus corniculatus upon nutrient metabolism and upon body and wood growth in grazing sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 54, 219–222.Google Scholar
Williams, C. H., David, D. J. & Iismaa, O. (1962). The determination of chromic oxide in faeces samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Journal of Agricultural Science 59, 381–385.Google Scholar
Young, M. J. & Sykes, A. R. (1988). Short- and long-term effects of intestinal parasitism on growth in sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 48, 157–162.Google Scholar