PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTIIS AND WEIGHT CHANGES IN SEMI-INTENSIVELY MANAGED SAVANNA BROWN GOATS FED SUPPLEMENTAL MAIZE AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENT

Abstract

The study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and weight changes in semi-intensively managed savanna brown goats of different ages fed supplemental maize bran and mineral supplement in Karshi, Abuja. The experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) using 3 treatments having 3 replicates. Eighteen (18) experimental animals weighing between 1.7 12kg and their ages ranging between 1-6 months, 7-12 months and 12 months and above were used. T₁ were without supplement, T₂ were supplemented with 1 kg of maize bran daily for 12 weeks but without salt lick while T₃ were supplemented with I kg of maize bran daily and salt lick. The faecal samples were examined weekly using simple floatation and sedimentation techniques for the presence of helminths. The parasites isolated were Ostertogia sp, strongyloides sp, Trichuris sp and schistosoma sp, respectively. The animals fed supplemental diets (T₂ and T₃) had significantly (P<0.05) higher weight gain at weeks 8, 11 and 12 than T₁. It is recommended that public awareness programme be step up in the study area on the zoonotic importance of the parasites isolated and that livestock farmers be adequately sensitized to the effective use of maize bran and mineral supplementation during the dry season period when feed resources are very scarce.