The use of tanniferous plant in the goat diet as alternative to parasite control

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of pink pepper meal supplementation (PPM) in the dairy goats diet as an antiparasitic agent compared with ionophore, the monensin sodium. A total of 18 female Saanen goats, were distributed in a completely randomized in groups of three treatments and six replications, consisting of the experimental groups: negative control (did not receive anticoccidial agent or PPS), group 1 (supplemented with 30% of PPM) and group 2 (supplemented with anticoccidial agent – monensin sodium). There was a significant effect of treatments on voluntary feed intake on growing phases (P ? 0.05). Furthermore, the animals treated with PPM had the lowest food consumption compared with the other treatments (P ? 0.05), but without negative effect on live body weight. In general, at both phases of rearing, it was not detected significant difference between the voluntary feed intake of control group and with monensin sodium supplementation (P > 0.05), but the food consumption in the control group did not result on increase of live body weight probably due to sanitary challenges such as gastrointestinal parasites. The opposite was observed in animals treated with monensin sodium that had the highest body weight (P ? 0.05) that did not differ from animals fed with pink pepper (P > 0.05). By the way, in the growth phase our results revealed significantly effect of treatments on live body weight (P ? 0.05). Animals fed with pink pepper supplementation had a greater live body weight compared with the control (P ? 0.05) and similar to those supplemented with the monensin sodium (P > 0.05). The number of oocysts per gram of faeces was lower in animals treated with PPS that differed significantly from control (P ? 0.05). Regarding the count number of eggs per gram of faeces OPG, it was not detected significant effect of treatments (P> 0.05). It was found that the pink pepper supplementation was effective in the control of gastrointestinal parasites of goats, mainly on protozoa family Eimeriidae, revealing potential for use in alternative parasite control programs. Concomitantly also it was showed maximizing animal performance by high live body weight even with the reduction of voluntary feed intake.