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An evaluation of food intake, digestive physiology and live-weight changes in N'dama and Gobra Zebu bulls following experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

O. O. Akinbamijo ,
J. J. Bennison ,
D. L. Romney ,
G. J. Wassink ,
J. Jaitner ,
D. J. Clifford  and
L. Dempfle
O. O. Akinbamijo
Affiliation:
International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia
J. J. Bennison
Affiliation:
Livestock Section, Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB
D. L. Romney
Affiliation:
Livestock Section, Natural Resources Institute, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB
G. J. Wassink
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Department of Veterinary Physiology, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
J. Jaitner
Affiliation:
International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia
D. J. Clifford
Affiliation:
International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia
L. Dempfle
Affiliation:
International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia
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Abstract

The effects of experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection on the digestive physiology and nutrient utilization in Gobra zebu and N'Dama cattle were examined in a 16-week trial. A pair-feeding procedure permitted examination of the effects of both food intake and trypanosomosis infection. Twenty Gobra and 16 N'dama bulls aged between 1 and 2 years were paired on a live-weight basis within each breed. One of each pair was chosen at random to serve as an uninfected control while the other was inoculated intradermally with 104 T. congolense in mice blood in the 6th week of the experiment. Packed cell volume and parasitaemia data were collected weekly throughout the trial. Total dry-matter intake (TDMI) and live-weight changes were measured weekly in all animals during the 16-week trial. Rate of passage (RoP) and dry matter digestibility were evaluated before and after infection.

While infection significantly depressed TDMI in both breeds (P < 0·05), neither infection nor breed affected the RoP and the apparent digestibility of the dry matter. Significant changes in live weight attributable solely to the infection were observed in both breeds. Loss of body weight was more severe (P < 0·05) in infected Gobra bulls compared with N'dama bulls possibly implying a superior efficiency of nutrient utilization by the N'dama during infection. In the course of the trial, one N'dama and three Gobra bulls that presented severe clinical symptoms of trypanosomosis were treated and withdrawn from the experiment along with their pair-fed controls.

In conclusion, the RoP and the digestive efficiency were not affected by infection and breed differences. Also, the trypanotolerance mechanism does not seem to be affected by anorexia but rather by the ability to conserve body reserves during infection.

Keywords

body weightcattledigestibilityfood intaketrypanotolerance
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , October 1997 , pp. 151 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1997

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