TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Effect of Helminthiasis on Weight Gains and Carcass Values of Young Indigenous Goats in Uganda
AU - Lapenga, K.O. AU - Rubaire-Akiiki, C. 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 8
IS  - 10
SP  - 1993
EP  - 1998
PY  - 2009
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2009.1993.1998
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2009.1993.1998
KW  - Helminthiasis
KW  -exposed goats
KW  -unexposed goats
KW  -weight gain
KW  -carcass value
KW  -dressing percentage
KW  -anthelmintic treatment
KW  -body condition score
AB  - The objective of this study was to determine the effect of helminthiasis on weight gain and carcass value of goats. A study was carried out at Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Production Research Institute (NAARI), where 96 young goats of mixed sexes ranging in age between 8 and 20 weeks old were grouped at the age in weeks of 8-12 and 16-20 weeks old and randomly allocated to two treatments. The treatments were anthelmintic treatment with Albendazole (Albenzole<SUP>®</SUP>) given orally at the rate of 20 mg kg<SUP>-1</SUP> body weight at interval of 2 weeks and no treatment to the experimental group. The investigations were replicated twice, the experimental unit being 12 goats on 4 paddocks each measuring 43.6x20.0 m with each paddock having 3 goats. The experimental plots were uniformly seeded with 0.5 kg of fresh feces containing 300 eggs g<SUP>-1</SUP> every 2 weeks for 2 months. The goats were tethered and grazed within each paddock from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm for a period of 24 weeks. Live weights were measured at every successive 14 days and weight gains were calculated as the difference between final and initial body weights. At the end of the trials, body condition scores and carcass grades were assessed and carcass analysis was carried out. Helminthiasis caused weight loss of 2.7 kg in the 16-20 weeks old group goats and the difference in weight gains between the unexposed and exposed goats was significant (p<0.05). In the 8-12 weeks age group, helminthiasis caused weight loss of 0.3 kg and the difference in weight gain between the unexposed and exposed goats was significant (p<0.05). Helminthiasis reduced body condition score and carcass grades to 1 and 0, respectively and the dressing percentage was reduced by 7.5% in both age groups. Dry matter content in the carcasses of infected goats was reduced by 4.0%.
ER  -