Effect of Deworming Frequency on Growth Performance of Grazing Small East African Goats

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of deworming frequency using the current available anthelmintic (lvermectin) on performance of grazing Small East African (SEA) goats. Three treatment groups each with 9 males and 9 females of three strains (Dodoma, Kigoma and Mtwara), were randomly formed from fifty four SEA goats. The age of the goats ranged between 8-12 months with an average of 10 months old. The goats weighed between 7-17 kg with a mean of 13 kg. The three treatments were based on deworming frequency thus treatment I was monthly deworming (T1). Treatment II was bi­ monthly deworming (TII) and treatment Ill was tri-monthly deworming (TIII). Growth performance was based on body weights, which was measured fortnightly. At the end of the experimental period (90 days) body condition scorings were carried out to supplement assessment of growth rate. There were significant (P<0.05) treatment effects on goats growth rate. TIII showing much lower rates, 12.87+ 9.88 g/day compared to 44.54 + 7.23 and 51.54 + 6.05 g/day for Tl and TII respectively. There were no significant (P>0.05) effects of sex or strain on goats growth rate. Goats in TIII significantly (P<0.05) scored the lowest body condition that of 2.61 + 0.15 compared to the other two treatments. Kigoma strain had significantly (P<0.05) higher body condition scores than the Dodoma and the Mtwara strains, 3.51 + 0.11 and 3.03 + 0.13 respectively. Female goats in all treatments scored higher than the male goats (P<0.01) condition scores than the Dodoma .and the Mtwara strains, 3.51 + 0.11 and 3.03 + 0.13 respectively. Female goats in all treatments scored higher than the male goats (P<0.01)