Potential use of heather to control gastrointestinal nematodes in goats

摘要: Abstract In the last decade, numerous studies have been carried out to evaluate potential anthelmintic benefit of consumption bioactive plants in small ruminants, order reduce dependence on conventional chemotherapy and supporting a sustainable control gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism. This review summarizes nutritional effects heather (shrub species belonging Ericaceae family, such as Erica spp. or Calluna vulgaris ) supplementation grazing goats naturally infected by GI nematodes. The experiments were mountain area north-western Spain where shrubby heather-gorse vegetation is dominant. Some plots established, which had improved soil ploughed dressing sowing perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne white clover Trifolium repens ), removing any that was present. Cashmere reared outdoors under pasture conditions used experiments. trials compared response nematode infections, animal performance nutrition supplemented not with heather. Interactions between availability other alternative methods infections based management (stocking rate) (energy supply) well adaptation rumen microbiota tannins, also studied. results suggest (i) significantly reduces level egg excretion, (ii) faecal count reduction could be associated decrease worm fertility and/or establishment incoming third-stage larvae, (iii) an apparent greater resilience (iv) amount tannins consumed does seem anti-nutritional eventually resulted better animals incorporating these shrubs their diet. Practical application this knowledge temperate areas would support integrating pastures high nutritive value (ryegrass-white clover) natural communities.