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Effects of periparturient metabolizable protein nutrition on ewes subjected to different infection pressures with the abomasal nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

A. Kidane*
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Team, SAC, Edinburgh EH9 9JG, United Kingdom
J.G.M. Houdijk
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Team, SAC, Edinburgh EH9 9JG, United Kingdom
S. Athanasiadou
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Team, SAC, Edinburgh EH9 9JG, United Kingdom
B.J. Tolkamp
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Team, SAC, Edinburgh EH9 9JG, United Kingdom
I. Kyriazakis
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Team, SAC, Edinburgh EH9 9JG, United Kingdom University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
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Extract

Nematode egg excretion by periparturient ewes is the main source of infection for their immunologically naïve lambs. It has been shown that periparturient metabolizable protein (MP) supplementation can reduce nematode egg excretion (Houdijk et al, 2003). The latter experiment used a single moderate level of infection, but effects of MP supply on periparturient parasitism may depend on the level of infection. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of MP supplementation on parasite control, ewe and lamb performance in ewes trickle infected with the abomasal nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta at three different infection levels. We hypothesised that the magnitude of beneficial effects of MP supplementation will be higher at the highest level of infection due to the expected nutrient drain on the host.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2008

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References

AFRC, 1993. Energy and protein requirements of ruminants. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, England.Google Scholar
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