title: Feeding practices and effects of gastrointestinal parasite infections on live weight gain of small ruminants in smallholder mixed farms in Kenya.
abstract: The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of gastrointestinal nematodosis on live weight gain (LWG) of sheep and goats kept in smallholder farms in Kenya. A total of 307 sheep and goats from smallholder farms were sampled using a 2-stage cluster and systematic random approach. Sampled farms were visited once a month for nine months during which a health and production survey questionnaire was administered, animals weighed and fecal samples taken for fecal egg count. Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear mixed model were performed in SAS. The mean LWG of suckling kids and lambs was low (mean=46 g/day). High fecal egg count and lack of feed supplementation were identified as the main factors limiting growth. Improved helminth control and nutrition are required to optimize production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. aodoi@utk.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odoi
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gathuma
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gachuiri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omore
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006041:Goats; D007630:Kenya; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics