ARS | Publication request: Non-traditional Forages in a Managed Grazing System for Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Sheep: Preliminary Work

Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 30, 2009
Publication Date: June 21, 2009
Citation: Shulaw, W., Lewandowski, R., Mccutcheon, J., Cline, C., Foster, J.G., Wittum, T. 2009. Non-traditional Forages in a Managed Grazing System for Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Sheep: Preliminary Work. In: Proceedings of the American Forage and Grassland Council. 2009 Annual Conference, June 21-23, 2009, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2009 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: This project compared lambs grazing forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) with lambs grazing brown mid-rib forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) x sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense Piper) hybrid (BMR) to determine if anti-parasitic effects of chicory could be demonstrated. Lambs grazed these forages for two periods consisting of two to three weeks each. When not grazing the respective treatments lambs grazed available permanent pasture. We evaluated changes in fecal egg counts (FEC) in two groups of 110 day-old weaned lambs before and after grazing these forages. Body weights, body condition scores (BCS), and FAMACHA scores were also obtained on lambs in both groups before and after grazing the forages. Chicory and BMR stands were adequate and forage quality analyses showed that the two forages were comparable in nutritive value. Lambs readily consumed ‘Oasis’ chicory, which contained 0.6 to 1.6% (dry weight basis) sesquiterpene lactones during the study period. Statistically significant differences in FEC between groups were not detected; however, chicory lambs had significantly better weight gain, average daily gain, body condition scores, and FAMACHA scores over the project duration. Drug resistance to all the chemical classes of dewormers was documented on the farm and inability to significantly reduce parasite burdens for the project lambs prevented optimal weight gain.