• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1190-1197
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• 2010

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between faecal egg counts and nutritionally-related blood metabolites in Nguni goats of South Africa. Body weights, body condition scores (BCS), FAMACHA scores, faecal and blood samples were collected from 96 Nguni castrates. Faecal samples were analysed using the modified McMaster technique for nematodes and the sedimentation method for trematodes. Blood was analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), glucose, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, urea and creatinine. Season had an effect on glucose, globulin, total protein, creatinine, PCV and faecal egg counts (FEC). Globulin, PCV, creatinine and FEC were significantly higher in the wet season compared to the dry season. A quadratic relationship existed between faecal egg count loads and BCS whilst negative linear relationships were observed between faecal egg counts and creatinine, albumin and cholesterol levels of Nguni goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1524-1528
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• 2006

A total of 437 animals, comprising lambs aged between 3 and 12 months and adults of either sex of Muzaffarnagari sheep maintained at the Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, India were screened to assess the prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infection following natural infection and to identify the various factors affecting faecal egg count (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV) of ewes and their genetic control. The relationships between FEC, PCV and body weight were also estimated. The prevalence rate for H. contortus infection in the flock under study was 15.7% indicating much lower occurrence of worm infection in lambs up to one year of age. On the other hand, a large proportion i.e., 67.7% of sheep was refractive to natural H. contortus infection. The random effect of sire significantly contributed (p<0.01) variation in log-transformed FEC (LFEC) of ewes. The season of birth had a significant (p<0.01) effect on LFEC of ewes. The lactating ewes had significantly (p<0.01) higher faecal egg counts compared to dry and pregnant ewes. The linear regression effects of the age of ewes on LFEC of animals were significant (p<0.01) in the present study. The heritabilities of LFEC, PCV and body weights of ewes during the course of infection were moderate to high in magnitude and ranged from 0.24 to 0.47. The LFEC of ewes was significantly (p<0.05) and negatively correlated with PCV at both genetic and phenotypic level. The genetic and phenotypic relationships between LFEC and body weights of ewes were -0.26 and -0.06 for this breed. The genetic correlation of PCV and body weight of ewes was positive and high (0.58) and statistically significant (p<0.05) but it was negatively correlated (-0.01) with body weight at the phenotypic level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.347-352
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• 1995

Studies on anthelmintic efficacy in sheep were carried out on a large breeding farm and on 7 smallholder farms in the North-Sumatra province, Indonesia. The efficacy in reducing strongyle infections in sheep, of albendazole on all farms and of febantel, levamisole and ivermectin on the breeding farm, was estimated by means of faecal egg count reduction tests. High efficacy (> 95%) was found with all the anthelmintics tested and on all farms. The results are discussed in relation to the current parasite control programme.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1039-1046
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• 2004

A model Indigenous Thai beef cattle breeding structure consisting of nucleus, multiplier and commercial units was used to evaluate the effect of changes in heritabilities of and genetic correlations between adaptation traits on genetic gain and profitability. A breeding objective that incorporated adaptation was considered. Two scenarios for improving both the production and the adaptation of animals where also compared in terms of their genetic and economic efficiency. A base scenario was modelled where selection is for production traits and adaptation is assumed to be under the forces of natural selection. The second scenario (+Adaptation) included all the information available for base scenario with the addition of indirect measures of adaptation. These measures included tick count (TICK), faecal egg count (FEC) and rectal temperature (RECT). Therefore, the main difference between these scenarios was seen in the records available for use as selection criteria and hence the level of investments. Additional genetic gain and profitability was generated through incorporating indirect measures of adaptation as criteria measured in the breeding program. Unsurprisingly, the results were sensitive to the changes in heritabilities and genetic correlations between adaptation traits. However, there were more changes in the genetic gain and profitability of the breeding program when the genetic correlations of adaptation and its indirect measures were varied than when the correlations between these measures were. The changes in the magnitudes of the genetic gain and profit per cow stresses the importance of using reliable estimates of these traits in any breeding program.