The Effects of Phytochemical Tannin Containing Diets on Meat Goat Performance and Drug Resistant Haemonchus contortus Control

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of condensed tannins (CT) containing diets of sericea lespedeza pellets (SLP; Lespedeza cuneata; 13.6% CT), pine bark powder (PB; Pinus; 16.3% CT), and a combination of SLP and PB on combating of the drug resistant Haemonchus contortus UGA/2004 in meat goats. Twenty four Kiko cross intact male goat (Capra hircus; BW = 38.6 ± 2.7 kg) of one year old were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments (n = 6): 1) 30% bermuda grass (Cynodondactylon) hay and 70% grain mix, 2) 30% PB and 70% grain mix, 3) 30% SLP and 70% grain mix, and 4) 15% PB, 15% SLP, and 70% grain mix. Each treatment diet (30%) was mixed with the remainder of each diet containing 70% commercial sweet feed and 30% alfalfa pellets for a 42-day trial. The animals were experimentally infected with 5000 of 3rd stage larvae of the drug resistant H. contortus 6 weeks before the initiation of the experiment. Starting from the day zero the animals were fed once daily and their performance monitored for the following 42 days. Biweekly body weight, fecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume, and FAMACHA score. Blood samples were collected at day 42 and blood serum chemistry was detected. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sent to the Meat Technology Center, Fort Valley State University, GA for slaughtering, abomasum sampling and carcass evaluation. Samples of abomasum content were preserved then sent to Louisiana State University for adult worm counts. The results showed that FEC and adult worm counts in the mix diet were significantly reduced by day 42 compared to other treatment groups. FAMACHA data was significant low in the PB diet on day 21, while it was significantly reduced in both the SLP and mix diet on day 42. Furthermore, the blood serum chemistry values were within the normal range of goats. This study shows that plant CT can affects gastrointestinal parasites infection in meat goats, and it is possible that this effect is depends on the source of CT or the CT-containing diet.