Do triclabendazole medicated molasses blocks have a role in control of Fasciola gigantica in smallholder cattle production in Lao PDR?

Abstract

Smallholder cattle production in many developing tropical countries including Laos is compromised by widespread endoparasitism, with limited farmer knowledge of parasites and facilities for administration of therapeutics. We report a pilot study examining the potential for triclabendazole provided in medicated molasses blocks offered to control Fasciola gigantica in smallholder cattle production. This study involved 241 cattle allocated into three groups: (1) triclabendazole (as Fasinex®, Novartis Animal Health Australia, Pty Ltd) medicated molasses blocks (MMB) with each tonne of MMB containing 0.5 kg triclabendazole; (2) unmedicated molasses blocks; and (3) a Control group. Data and faecal samples were obtained at Weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12 for faecal egg counts (FEC) determination. Reductions in FEC in the MMB group of 90.48% and a mean FEC of 4 ± 17 eggs per gram of faeces at 12 weeks post-treatment was observed, with liveweight increasing from 174.60 (±3.35) kg to 191.50 (±3.69) kg in Weeks 1 and 12, respectively (P = 001) and an average daily weight gain of 201 g/day. Reduction in FEC in the unmedicated molasses blocks group was also observed, by 28.78% and 18.96%, with liveweight increasing from 179.50 (±3.35) kg to 189.90 (±6.05) kg in Weeks 1 and 12 respectively (P = 0.3), with an average daily gain of 124 g/day. This study suggests that productivity was enhanced when triclabendazole was added to the blocks, delivering parasite suppression or potentially therapeutic doses on ad libitum feeding of the MMB. Although further work is required to establish the therapeutic potential of MMB, the use of MMB may offer a parasite management and nutritional supplementation strategy for smallholder farmers, particularly in Laos and other countries where unmanaged Fasciola spp. infestations reduce ruminant productivity and facilities for animal restraint to enable delivery of oral anthelmintics, are largely non-existent.

Is Improved Milk Production from Supplementation of Buffalo with Molasses Nutrient Blocks Containing 10% Urea, a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Strategy?

“…The trial suggests an advantage of up to a 31% increase in daily milk production, albeit from a very low base milk yield level, as a result of block supplementation for several months. This provides additional evidence of the efficacy of molasses block technology in successfully enhancing productivity through supplementation of the generally inefficient large ruminant smallholder production system, as demonstrated previously in dairy buffalo in other countries [12] and recently in beef animals in Laos [13,14,15]. Previous trials with UMNBsupplemented buffaloes in South Asia [12] also showed increased milk yield and higher milk fat values than did their un-supplemented counterparts, calculated as an average increase of 8% milk yield and 0.5 percentage unit milk fat [21].…”

“…This research trial aimed to further examine the recent research findings in Laos conducted with beef animals, that showed that significant improvements in ADG could accrue from supplementation with NMB and UNMB8 [13,14,15], with young calves having the highest ADG (251-265 g/day) presumably due to their access to increased milk from their dams [15]. The preliminary findings in this trial in a buffalo dairy, following supplementing of the forage-based diet of lactating buffalo with ad libitum access to 'Cow-Calf' UMNB10, are indicative of considerable increases in daily milk production, without a loss in BCS.…”

“…Evidence has been accumulating on the efficacy of molasses block technology in successfully enhancing large ruminant productivity, with molasses nutrient blocks (MNB) conveniently enabling supplementation of the generally inefficient large ruminant production system in a number of countries [12], including most recently Laos [13,14,15]. This has been demonstrated in beef animals, with improved nutrition and parasite control increasing growth rates, particularly in younger animals, presumably through improving lactation yields, with and without inclusion of 8% urea (UMNB8) in the molasses nutrient block [13,14,15].…”

“…Evidence has been accumulating on the efficacy of molasses block technology in successfully enhancing large ruminant productivity, with molasses nutrient blocks (MNB) conveniently enabling supplementation of the generally inefficient large ruminant production system in a number of countries [12], including most recently Laos [13,14,15]. This has been demonstrated in beef animals, with improved nutrition and parasite control increasing growth rates, particularly in younger animals, presumably through improving lactation yields, with and without inclusion of 8% urea (UMNB8) in the molasses nutrient block [13,14,15]. However, to measure the improved lactation that can accrue from supplementation with access to high-quality molasses blocks containing 10% urea, , a trial was conducted to examine the efficacy of ad-libitum supplementation of the diet of lactating Asiatic swamp buffalo used for milk production in a recently constructed buffalo dairy enterprise in Laos aimed at the speciality manufacture of buffalo mozzarella cheese for the local tourist industry.…”

Real-Time Monitoring of Self-Fed Supplement Intake, Feeding Behaviour, and Growth Rate as Affected by Forage Quantity and Quality of Rotationally Grazed Beef Cattle

“…Nevertheless, these results should be interpreted with caution as LWC responses and MLB intake between individual animals could largely differ, as we show in a companion paper (unpublished data) [17]. In addition to the nutritional benefits of supplementing MLB, ionophores included in the blocks (Lasalocid sodium) could have been effective to control common diseases of young cattle, such as coccidiosis, while improving feed efficiency [18,19]. The availability of minerals from MLB could also influence LWC of weaners as minerals are usually deficient in most forages in comparison to the high requirements of young growing cattle [20].…”