Effect of anti-coccidial drugs in goats

Researchers at Texas A&M University compared the efficacy of two anti-coccidia drugs in goats. One hundred and fifty young goats, housed on concrete lots, were randomized to receive either amprolium (50 mg/kg once a day for 5 days by mouth) or ponazuril (10 mg/kg by mouth once) if they had fecal oocyst counts >5,000 per gram.

Both treatments resulted in decreased oocyst counts post-treatment compared to before treatment. There was no significant difference between fecal coccidia oocyst counts between goats in each group. There was no significant difference in body weight between goats in each group. This study showed that both amprolium and ponazuril were effective in decreasing fecal coccidia oocyst counts in this group of goats.

Use of both drugs is currently extra-label in the USA. Amprolium (Corid®) is labeled for treatment of coccidiosis in calves while ponazuril (Marquis®), a metabolite of toltrazuril, is labeled for treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

Coccidiosis is an important disease of young goats (and lambs) leading to weight loss, diarrhea, and death. In the USA, both ionophores and decoquinate are labeled for prevention of coccidia in goats (and sheep). However, there are no drugs approved for treatment of clinical cases of coccidiosis in either species.

Source: Veterinary Parasitology, March 2016

Impact of Selection and Breed on Resistance

by Ken Andries
Kentucky State University

For years producers have been told they need to utilize selective treatment and cull animals that require greater numbers of treatments.  Using the eye color score system (FAMACHA) we are able to select for resilience, but there is little evidence of the impact.

Boers had higher egg counts post-weaning

Kentucky State University started with a grade Boer herd in 2005 and added Spanish (2010) and Savanna (2011) breeds to evaluate breed differences under Kentucky’s environment.  The herds were selected for production and parasite resilience/resistance by culling any doe that did not bring a kid to weaning and number of dewormings a doe received during a 12 month period.

We moved the number of dewormings down over the years from 5 dewormings in 2008, to our current standard of culling any doe that is dewormed 3 times, or more, in a year. We started evaluating parasite loads in the kids at weaning and 60 days post weaning in 2016.

Read full article

Source:  American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control 

A New Era in Western Maryland

The Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test was initiated at the University of Maryland’s Western Maryland Research & Education in Keedysville (Washington County) in 2006.

The purpose of the test was to evaluate the post-weaning performance of meat goat bucklings consuming a pasture-based diet, with natural exposure to internal parasites. Identifying bucks that were resistant and resilient to internal parasites was the trademark of the test.

The test was conducted for eleven years. Almost 800 bucks were evaluated. While the test was open to any breed or cross of goat, it gradually evolved into a “Kiko test.”  Over the span of the test, more than 100 producers from 20 states consigned bucks. Top-performing bucks were sold (as far away as California) or returned to farms for breeding.

Bucks from the 2012 test

Over the years, many programs and activities were held in conjunction with the test, including field days, tours, sales, skillathons, and carcass evaluation. In 2014, the BluegrassPerformance Invitational in Frankfort, Kentucky, was established as a place to sell performance tested goats, including the top-performing bucks from the Maryland test. This year's sale is September 1-2, 2017.

Now, the goat test era is over (in  Maryland). Goat producers will be encouraged and assisted in their move to the next step in performance testing: within and across-herd EBVs. EBV stands for estimated breeding value and is a measure of genetic merit, The data is far more accurate than the data from buck tests.

A sheep research program will be initiated at the Western Maryland Research & Education next spring (2018). The pastures are being re-established and new infrastructure is being put in, as the hoop house that was installed several years ago was completely destroyed this past winter.

Internal parasites (GI worms) will likely continue to be the focus of the research program, as it is a logical follow-up to the goat test and parasites remain a major obstacle to profitable small ruminant production. We also plan to plant different forages for grazing.

Bucks from the 2014 test

I’d like to express appreciation to my “Goat Team”: Jeff Semler, David Gordon, Pam Thomas, and Mary Beth Bennett. Others who played key roles include E. Nelson Escobar, Niki Whitley, Willie Lantz, Chris Anderson, Jeanne Deitz-Band, Lexie Simmons, and Amy Garza.

Dr. Dahlia O’Brien at Virginia State University (previously at Delaware State University) was instrumental to the success of the test, as she performed all the fecal egg analyses.

Thanks to the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board for providing funding for the pen vs. pasture studies.

Thanks to everyone who supported the goat test over the years, including all the consigners and buyers of bucks.

Susan Schoenian
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension

Composite Fecal Sampling

One of the methods for determining anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance is the Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT). Fecal samples from individual animals are compared before or after treatment or to a control group after treatment. It is recommended that at least 15 animals be sampled.

As an alternative to individual fecal samples, researchers at the University of Georgia compared using pooled composite samples with individual samples. The results of their research were recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Parasitology, "Using composite fecal samples when testing for anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle."

Their research showed the mean fecal egg counts from the composite and individual fecal samples to be 98.9% in agreement. The fecal egg count reduction of the composite and individual samples was 95.9% in agreement.

The researchers concluded that composite sampling is a practical tool for producers to assess resistance and that is should improve parasitological testing among producers. Methods of composite sampling are discussed in the article.

Read journal article 

Reducing Worm Larvae With Liquid N

As it is well-known, barber pole larvae show increased resistance to commercial anthelmintics drenched to small ruminant livestock, and producers are looking for other alternatives. What about bypassing the livestock entirely and applying a larvicidal product directly on the pasture itself?  Laboratory studies we conducted at North Carolina State University showed that 96.6% L3 barber pole larvae were not moving or dead when immersed in solutions of liquid nitrogen fertilizer.  

So, could we pop two balloons with one dart by fertilizing pastures with liquid nitrogen fertilizer to promote forage growth and at the same time reducing pasture nematode larvae population, their subsequent ingestion by grazing animals and ultimately reducing gastrointestinal parasite loads? North Carolina State University conducted three experiments to test this hypothesis on predominantly tall fescue pastures.

Read full article at http://www.wormx.info/liquidn  

DUP has no effect during periparturient period

Ewes experience a temporary decline in resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) during the periparturient period, characterized by a rise in fecal egg count (FEC) that represents a major source of pasture contamination for naïve progeny. The aim of an Irish study was to assess the effect of level of supplementation with digestible undegraded protein (DUP) during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy on periparturient FEC and the performance of ewes with a naturally acquired parasite infection.

Periparturient ewes

Eighty-five Belclare and Belclare x Scottish Blackface twin/triplet-bearing ewes were allocated to 1 of 4 dietary groups representing the combination of 2 concentrates (DUP concentration 29 and 94 g/kg dry matter) with 2 levels of concentrate during the final 6 weeks of gestation. All ewes were housed during the pre-partum feeding period and offered grass silage ad libitum.  After lambing, ewes and lambs grazed on permanent sheep pasture, without concentrate supplementation, until weaning (14 weeks post lambing).

The effect of week (relative to lambing date) on FEC was highly significant. However, diet did not influence FEC at any stage either pre- or post-partum.  The changes in BW and BCS from 6 weeks before lambing to weaning were not affected by the concentration of DUP in the supplement, but ewes on treatments involving the higher level of supplementation lost less BW and BCS.

The results of this study indicate that the level of DUP supplementation during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy does not affect FEC, BW or BCS of housed ewes with a naturally acquired GIN infection.

Read abstract from Veterinary Parasitology (February 2017).

Using COWPs to Improve Dewormer Efficacy

USDA ARS (Boonville, Arkansas) conducted an experiment in weaned lambs to determine the effect of treatment with two sources of copper oxide wire particles (COWP), albendazole (Valbazen®), or a combination of albendazole and COWP. There were five treatment groups:

1.  Control (no treatment)
2.  COWP (Copasture®)

3.  COWP (Ultracruz™)
4.  COWP + albendazole

5.  Albendazole (Valbazen®)

A 2 g dose of COWP was used, but only 1 g is normally recommended for lambs. Albendazole (Valbazen®) was given at double the labeled dose at 15 mg/kg of body weight (3 ml/50 lbs.). There were between 10 and 23 lambs per treatment. The flock was determined to have resistance to benzimidazoles (same class of dewormer as albendazole) by the Drenchrite® test. The population of worms was mixed (H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Cooperia spp., Oesophagostomum spp.).

There was an increase in fecal egg counts in the untreated lambs and a reduction in all other groups. The greatest reduction occurred in lambs treated with both COWP and albendazole (99.1%). The reduction with COWP alone was 12% and 58%, respectively, using Copasure® and Ultracruz™.  While numerically different, there was no statisical difference between the different forms of COWP. Albendazole alone reduced fecal egg counts by 20 percent.  Similarly, albendazole alone was not statistically different from COWP alone.

Read full article   

No Advantage to Hydroponic Fodder

Barley sprouts

Hydroponic fodder is being promoted as a means to reduce feed costs and improve productivity.  Alan Sulser, an Agricultural Extension Agent with Utah State University, conducted an experiment to evaluate the economic potential of hydroponic fodder and its effect(s) on the performance of sheep. Over a two year period, Sulser fed hydroponic fodder to replacement ewes and rams.

 After a 2-week adaptation period, sheep were randomly allocated to two treatment groups. The control group was fed alfalfa hay and mixed grain (corn + barley). The treatment group was fed the same feed ingredients (in different amounts), along with hydroponic fodder. Sulser sprouted his own grains from barley (6 day growth period). The rations were balanced for energy (TDN) on a dry matter basis using Montana State University's Sheep Ration Balancer. The sheep were fed their respective diets for 100 days. They were fed twice daily and weighed every 10 days.

Group	Cost per day		ADG	Cost per gain
Fodder-fed	$0.96	$1.01	0.59	$1.71	$1.87
Control	$0.54		0.64	$0.89

Averaged over both years and sexes, body weight gain was not significantly between groups. Control sheep gained an average of 0.64 lbs. per day, while the fodder-fed sheep averaged 0.59 lbs. per day. Compared to the control group, the fodder-fed animals consumed more dry matter on a daily basis. Feed cost per day was higher for the fodder-fed animals:  $0.96 vs. $0.54 per day.  If all costs are included, feed cost per day for the fodder-fed animals increases to $1.08, and cost per pound of gain increases to $1.87.  Other costs include labor, water, electricity, and equipment ($10,000 for a commercial fodder system prorated over 10 years).

The experiments showed no advantage to feeding hydroponic fodder in replacement of hay and grain to replacement sheep. The experiments were not scientific.

 Source:  Journal of the NACAA, December 2015

No Benefit to Removing Tapeworms

In 2012 and 2013, an experiment was conducted on a commercial sheep farm in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, to test the hypothesis that the growth rates of meat-type lambs would not be affected by the removal of tapeworms (Monieza spp.).

In 2012 and 2013, 93 and 85 lambs respectively were randomly allocated to two treatment groups. One group (Prazi) was treated with praziquantel, levamisole and abamectin to remove tapeworm and gastrointestinal nematode infection (GIN) while the second group (Control) was treated with levamisole and abamectin to remove only GIN.

Tapeworm prevalence and egg counts of Control lambs ranged from 25 to 77% and 7 to 730 eggs per gram (epg) respectively and were significantly reduced in Prazi lambs, following treatment, at all time-points in both years. Pre-treatment GIN worm egg counts ranged between 1684 and 3368 epg with Haemonchus contortus being the dominant species. Post-treatment GIN worm egg counts were similar between Prazi and Control groups, expect on one occasion (Day 65, 2013) when GIN worm egg counts were expectantly higher in Control lambs.

Group	2012		2013
CONTROL	81 g/d	0.18 lb/d	134 g/d	0.30 lb/d
PRAZI	95 g/d	0.21 lb/d	132 g/d	0.29 lb/d

No significant difference in growth rates were observed between treatment groups in either year with overall group mean daily body weight gains being 95 and 81 g/day  (0.18 and 0.21 lb/d)  in 2012 and 132 and 134 g/day (0.30 and 0.29 lb/d) in 2013 for the Prazi and Control groups respectively. This experiment confirmed that removal of tapeworm burdens did not increase growth rates in meat-breed lambs.

Source:  Veterinary Parasitology, March 2015

Comparison of Weaning Methods

Researchers in Arkansas compared weaning methods to determine effects on performance and behavior of lambs. 168 crossbred Katahdin lambs were utilized in two experiments. Traditional weaning was characterized by complete separation of lambs from their dams, whereas fenceline weaning maintained fenceline contact. In contrast with calves, lamb performance and behavior did not differ among weaning methods.

There is no benefit to fenceline contact.

In two additional experiments, involving 190 Katahdin lambs, the time of day was added as a variable. The four treatment groups were 1) traditional-am; 2) traditional-pm; 3) fenceline-am; and 4) fenceline-pm. In these experiments, there were no beneficial effects of alternative weaning strategies. No performance differences were detected among treatment groups. The percentage of lambs vocalizing was greater among those with fenceline contact with their dams.

Source:  Sheep & Goat Research Journal

Bigger Dogs for Bigger Predators

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight,
it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Mark Twain

Or maybe it's a little of both. With the help of 19 producers, 21 sheep bands and 65 livestock protection dogs of various breeds, the National Wildlife Research Center's Utah field station, several Wildlife Services state offices and Utah State University will soon begin the final field season of a multi-year, multi-state study. The goal of the study is to determine whether larger European dog breeds, such as Kangals, Karakachans and Cao de Gado Transmontanos, are more effective at protecting livestock from predation than dog breeds currently being used in the United States.

"Unfortunately, many of our current dog breeds are no match for our larger predators, such as wolves and grizzly bears, which are becoming more prevalent," notes NWRC's Utah field station leader Dr. Julie Young. "Finding suitable dog breeds for use as livestock protection dogs against wolves and bears not only helps us safeguard livestock and the livelihoods of ranchers, but also enhances and encourages coexistence between people and large predators."

USU graduate student Daniel Kinka is leading field efforts in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming that monitor the movements of radio-collared LPDs and sheep. He compares the data to information on local predator activities gathered by trail cameras. Because it is difficult to observe an actual LPD-predator encounter, Kinka also observes the dogs' behaviors when exposed to potential threats using a fairly elaborate decoy system.

Preliminary results show all of the dog breeds exhibit high fidelity to their sheep - meaning they do a good job of staying close to their flocks. The dogs also distinguish between wolf and deer decoys with dogs responding aggressively towards the wolf decoys.

Trail cameras and space-use data confirm that LPDs, sheep, wolves and grizzly bears share the same habitat during the grazing season, but more analysis is needed to determine how often overlap and interactions occur.

During the final field season and with more data, researchers hope to determine if certain dog breeds are better at deterring grizzlies versus wolves or if some are more effective in forested, open or fenced environments.

 Source:  ASI Weekly News, 3.4.16

Diet May Affect Gender

Feeding ewes a diet high in omega-3 would appear to lead to a higher proportion of male lambs, while an increase in female lambs occurs when the bulk of the feed is omega-6.

These are the findings of a study at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute in southern New South Wales (Australia). The study began in 2009 with 300 ewes building to just over 1,500. Ewes were fed their respective diets for either six weeks prior to joining only or both six weeks prior to and three weeks following joining.

"Grain for girls, pasture for boys."

"What it has shown is that if we feed a diet based on omega-3, which is similar to what we get when we feed pasture, we get more male lambs," the researcher explained. He said future research may also look at enhancing the rams' diet.

Male lambs with their faster growth rate are attractive for prime lamb producers while those looking to bolster future flock numbers lean toward female lambs.

Link to original article

ACSRPC Web Site Redesigned

The web site of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) has been redesigned. You can view the new web site at either www.acsrpc.org or www.wormx.info.

You should consider the consortium's web site to be your definitive source of information on internal parasite control in small ruminants. The consortium was formed in response to the critical state of the small ruminant industry associated with the emergence of anthelmintic resistant worms. It is a group of scientists, veterinarians, and extension specialists.

www.acsrpc.org
www.wormx.info

Endophyte-infected Fescue Reduces Fetal Growth

Researchers at Clemson University determined that exposure to ergot alkaloids during gestation reduces fetal growth in sheep. Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum), the primary cool season perennial grass in the Eastern United States, contains an endophyte which produces ergot alkaloids that cause vasoconstriction and could restrict the blood flow to the fetus in pregnant ewes.

The objective of the study was to examine fetal growth  during maternal exposure to ergot alkaloids during gestation. Pregnant Southdown ewes (n=16) were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: 1) endophyte infected tall fescue seed (E+) and 2) endophyte-free tall fescue seed (E-).  The fescue seed was delivered daily in a total mixed ration. The seed compromised 38.5% of the ration.The fescue seed was fed to simlulate the fescue toxicosis syndrome during gestation (d 35 to parturition).

Birth weights of lambs were reduced by 37 percent for the E+ compared to E-. Organ and muscle weights were also lighter for E+ comapred to E-.  The researchers concluded that exposure to ergot alkaloids in utero reduces fetal growth and muscle development. Additional research is needed to determine mechanisms by which ergot alkaloids reduce fetal growth and the critical time periods of exposure in order to mitigate its effects on fetal growth. 

Read full paper

Vaccine Proving Effective

One of the most damaging and prevalent roundworm parasites in the world is now being seriously challenged by a new vaccine developed by the Moredun Research Institute in Scotland.

The barber pole worm or Haemonchus contortus is a voracious blood sucker which causes anaemia in sheep and goats and can quickly cause fatalities.

Barber pole worms (image by Ray Kaplan)

The long road to producing a commercially available vaccine started at the Moredun several years ago with the identification of the proteins in the intestines of the barber pole worm. Extracting and purifying these proteins and then incorporating them in tiny quantities in a vaccine has turned out to trigger a reliable immune response in sheep. Essentially the antibodies produced circulate in the bloodstream and then block the digestive system of the invading worm. It will eventually die and should produce far fewer eggs before its demise.

“We have noted a 90% reduction in egg laying on pastures,” said David Smith, project leader at the Moredun. Initially, Mr Smith considered using molecular biology to reproduce the proteins but soon discovered that it would be far cheaper and easier to harvest barber pole worms from the intestines of infested sheep and then extract the proteins.

Remarkably, no pharmaceutical companies are involved allowing profits to be recirculated back to the Moredun for further research into animal diseases.

Read full article

Zactran® Eliminates Footrot

Gamithromycin (Zactran®) is macrolide antibiotic licensed for cattle in the treatment and control of bovine respiratory disease. It is not approved for sheep (or goats); however, it may be prescribed by a veterinary for extra-label use.

Foot rot is caused by the anaerobic bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. D. nodosus does not survive for long in the environment, so the main reservoir of infection is in the animals. In theory, foot rot can be eliminated from a flock, through a combination of vaccination and/or antibacterial treatment (parenteral or topical) and/or culling of infected animals, coupled with good biosecurity.

In a German flock with a high prevalence of foot rot, 184 sheep were given the standard dose of Zactran® (6 mg/kg). The injection was given subcutaneously in the axilla. On day 23, 19 sheep were re-treated with Zactran®. On day 45, no lame sheep or positive lesion scores were observed.

In a Danish study, 48 flocks comprising around 9000 sheep were given the standard dose of Zactran®, subcutaneously on the side of the neck. Of the 48 participating flocks, 44 remained free of foot rot and D. nodosus more than one year later

The results from both studies showed that whole-flock, systemic antibiotic treatment can eliminate foot rot and D.  nodosus. In the Danish study, a single treatment with gamithromycin was sufficient. In the German flock, two treatments at an interval of 22 days were required to eliminate foot rot in some sheep.

Source:  Short Communication, Veterinary Record, January 2014

A Wise Man's Alfalfa

by Dr. Tom Terrill
Fort Valley State University

Because of its ability to tolerate infertile, acidic soils and grow well on sloping land with minimal lime and fertilizer inputs, the perennial warm-season legume sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) has earned the nickname "Poor man’s alfalfa." With recent research on the potential health and environmental benefits of including SL in the diet of ruminant animals, it may be time for a new nickname:  "wise man's alfalfa."

Dr. Tom Terrill

Like other forages that contain condensed tannins (CT), a compound that binds to protein when the plant is chewed and digested, SL is non-bloating. It also lowers the production of methane from the animal’s rumen, reducing the contribution of this powerful greenhouse gas to global warming.

However, for farmers trying to keep their livestock healthy during a period when anthelmintic drugs are rapidly losing their effectiveness, the excellent anti-parasitic properties of SL in fresh (grazed) or dried (hay, leaf meal, pellets) forms in the diet of sheep, goats, and other ruminants may be most important.

Read full article at www.wormx.info

Be sure to read other Timely Topics from the American Consortium For Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC). The consortium was formed in response to the critical state of the small ruminant industry associated with the emergence of anthelmintic resistant worms. 

Dock Length Has No Effect on Rectal Prolapse

At Texas Tech, researchers investigated the effects of sex, breed, docked tail length, and the expression of the callipyge phenotype on the incidence of rectal prolapse in lambs.

To test whether these factors influence rectal prolapse in a controlled feedlot environment, lambs (n = 382) representing both sexes and four breed types were assigned randomly to one of three docking treatments. In short-docked lambs, the tail was removed as close to the body as possible. In medium-docked lambs, the tail was removed midway between the attachment of the tail to the body and the caudal folds to the tail. Long-docked lambs had their tails removed at the attachment of the caudal folds to the tail.

Incorporating the callipyge phenotype into the study design assessed the effect of enhanced muscle development on rectal prolapse. The overall incidence of rectal prolapse in the study was 2.1 percent. Ewe lambs were no more likely to experience prolapses than male lambs. Seven of the eight (87 percent) lambs that prolapsed were hair sheep. No lambs expressing the callipyge phenotype prolapsed. There was no difference in rectal prolapse occurrence among the three docking treatments.

In the study, sex, tail dock length, and muscling did not appear to contribute to rectal prolapse in lambs. However, there may be an over-looked genetic component that influences the occurrence of prolapses in response to the practice of docking.

Source: Sheep & Goat Research Journal, March 2014

Value-Added Products is Theme of Field Day

Value-added products is the theme of the 2014 Virginia State University (VSU) Small Ruminant Field Day, to be held Friday, September 19, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at VSU's Randolph Farm in Petersburg, Virginia.

Dr. Paul Kuber

Speakers will include Dr. Paul Kuber from Ohio State University. Dr. Kuber will speak about small ruminant production and processing. Patricia Knight, owner of Nana's Dream Farm & Apiary will speak about small ruminant dairy production and processing. Theresa Nartea from Virginia Cooperative Extension will explain practical techniques for strategic marketing for small ruminant  products.

Afternoon activities will include small ruminant meat and dairy sample tastings, demonstrations of various  management practices, and the chance to learn about ongoing research projects  by VSU's Small Ruminant faculty.

The pre-registration deadline is September 12. The registration fee is $10 per person.You can register online at http://tinyurl.com/2014srfieldday. For registration information, contact Mollie Klein at mklein@vsu.edu or (804) 524-5906. For field day particulars, contact Dr. Dahlia O’Brien, VSU Small Ruminant Extension Specialist at dobrien@vsu.edu or (804) 524-6963.

The event is also sponsored locally by Heretick Feed & Seed Company and Southern States Cooperative, both of Petersburg, Virginia.

Improving Parasite Resilience

by Ken Turner
USDA ARS, El Reno, Oklahoma

Establishing and maintaining legumes in pastures improves protein levels in the diet of grazing livestock.  In addition, legumes generally have higher levels of several minerals (calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc) in comparison to grasses.  These minerals can help maintain a healthy immune system in animals and thus improve tolerance to GI parasites.

USDA ARS Image

Maintaining forages with high nutritive value (including increased protein levels by utilizing legumes in pastures) helps to increase resilience in sheep and goats to GI parasites.  When grazing sheep and goats on pasture, resilience can be defined as the animal’s ability to tolerate higher GI parasite burdens and still remain productive (gain weight; produce milk).

In a 2012 study, meat goat kids grazing alfalfa or red clover (legumes, high protein) pastures gained more weight compared to goat kids grazing orchardgrass pasture despite an increasing fecal egg count in all animals.  Meat-goat kids grazing alfalfa or red clover appeared to be more resilient to GI parasites than goat kids grazing orchardgrass. 

Use of legume pastures and use of rotational stocking grazing management can provide herbages with high protein and energy levels, helping reduce effects from GI parasitism (especially Haemonchus) in sheep and goats.

Read full article at wormx.info