Anthelmintic Treatment of Goats on an Arid Range and its Effect on Milk Production in Late Lactation

Abstract

Mellado, M., González, H., García, J.E. and García, R. 2004. Anthelmintic treatment of goats on an arid range and its effect on milk production in late lactation. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 25: 91–95.

The effect of a single anthelmintic treatment (Closantel^R; subcutaneously at 8.0 mg kg¹ BW) on milk production and its composition, live weight change and blood chemistry in mix-bred goats was studied in an arid zone of northern Mexico. Twelve adult goats towards the end of lactation (120 d; end of the rainy season) were treated, whereas ten adult goats were used as untreated controls. Fecal egg count (FEC) in the treated group dropped 93% (P<0.01) 21 days after treatment, but this FEC reduction did not affect liveweight change, milk yield and milk composition. These data suggest a high resilience of the host against the sub-clinical nematode infection, therefore, in this area goat milk producers are likely not to be benefited economically by using anthelmintics.

Key words:

• Gastrointestinal nematodes
• anthelmintic treatment
• milk production
• blood chemistry
• goat