Effect of pasture species on internal parasites of lambs

Abstract

<jats:p>Increasing resistance of gastro-intestinal nematode parasites to anthelmintics and consumer resistance to the possibility of residues in animal products have prompted research on the effect of pasture species on nematodes and animal performance. Lambs (either infected with high rates of gastrointestinal nematodes or maintained nematode-free) were grazed on pure swards of chicory, high- or low-endophyte ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue, lucerne, lotus, white clover or plantain. Infected lambs that grazed chicory had lower faecal egg counts and adult nematode populations, and higher carcass weights, than lambs grazed on plantain or the grass species; lambs that grazed legumes generally had intermediate counts, populations and weights. When kept parasite-free, carcass weights were up to 48% greater than in the nematodeinfected treatments. On farmlets run over 3 years, substituting 30% of the ryegrass area with lucerne or replacing the ryegrass with a multi-species mix consisting predominantly of bromes, tall fescue, phalaris, timothy and red and white clover, had no effect on gastrointestinal nematode larvae, lamb faecal worm egg or adult nematode numbers. It is concluded that a diet of pure chicory affects internal parasite populations but the small proportion included in the farmlet studies had no effect. Keywords: Cichorium intybus, Dactylis glomerota, Festuca arundinacea, gastro-intestinal nematodes, lambs, Lolium perenne, Lotus corniculatus, Medicago sativa, pasture species, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens</jats:p>

Nutritive Value of Chicory and English Plantain Forage

“…Plantain also contains a number of biologically active compounds, such as the iridoid glycosides acubin and catapol, which have chemical defense properties in the plant (El‐Niggar and Beal, 1980; Bowers and Stamp, 1992). Plantain and chicory reportedly have medicinal properties in livestock but the research is not conclusive (Knight et al, 1996; Gustine et al, 2001; Marley et al, 2002).…”

Forage Yield and Persistence of Chicory and English Plantain

“…We have investigated the seedling development and establishment of plantain and found that it establishes easily from seed (Sanderson and Elwinger, 2000a,b). There are some reports of medicinal attributes for plantain, such as anthelmintic properties, but the research is not conclusive (Knight et al, 1996; Gustine et al, 2001).…”

The effect of pasture species on pasture and animal performances in irrigated systems

“…The variation in postweaning and between-year growth rate appeared to coincide with changed proportions of clover and clover and chicory in swards (Table 6) and may reflect the higher nutritive value of these species. (Konolong et al 1992;Scales 1993;Scale et al 1995;Knight et al 1996). The proportion of clover and chicory declined Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 62: 59-66 (2000) Despite carcass weights consistently reflecting the rate of post-weaning liveweight gain such that the faster growing lambs produced the heavier carcasses, differences were not statistically significant between the Control and Improved treatments (Table 9).…”