The potential of tephrosia and vernonia as anthelmintics against gastrointestinal in goats

Abstract

Eighteen dual purpose goats were used to evaluate the effects of feeding Calliandra caryothyrsus leaf meat at different patterns as a supplement to Rhodes grass hay on intake, nitrogen utilization and milk yield. A basal diet of low quality Rhodes grass hay (fed 90% and libitum) and 100 g maize germ were offered to the goats over a 60-day experimental period. The treatments were:- (TI) 100 g day{sup -}1 calliandra for 60 days; (T2) 200 g day{sup -}1 calliandra for 30 days followed by another 30 days where 200 g or 0 g day{sup -}1 calliandra alternated every 5 days; and (T3) 200 g or 0 day{sup -}1 calliandra alternated every 5 days for 60 days. Total dry matter intake (TDM) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in T1 than in T2 and T3. The total DMI were 887.2, 936.4 and 913.8 g day{sup -}1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Milk yields had similar trends averaged 166.1, 231.8 and 20.1 g day{sup -}1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The utilization of nitrogen was also significantly (P<0.05) affected by the pattern of supplement feeding. It was concluded from the results that the overall animal response could be influenced by how limited quantity f supplement was fed.