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Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection of Lambs Raised in Drylot¹

University of Illinois, Urbana

Abstract

Twenty lambs from ewes heavily parasitized with gastrointestinal nematodes (mostly Haemonchus) were weaned at approximately 85 days of age and left in drylot apart from their dams. They were slaughtered approximately 70 days after weaning. Fecal nematode egg counts were made on the ewes at the time of weaning and on the lambs at the time of slaughter. The lambs' gastrointestinal tracts were subjected to critical examination for nematodes at the time of slaughter.

At the time of weaning, the ewes were passing an average of 5,300 nematode eggs per gram (e.p.g.) of feces, while the lambs were passing none. At the time of slaughter, the lambs were passing an average of 80 e.p.g. Extremely few adult nematodes were found in the lambs at slaughter. None at all were found in six, and averages of 9.6 Trichuris ovis, 1.0 Nematodirus spathiger, 0.5 Trichostrongylus axei, and 0.2 Haemonchus contortus were found in the whole group.

These data, obtained by critical examination of parasite load, support the view that lambs grown in drylot are relatively free of nematodes even when their dams are carrying relatively heavy infections of several species. This information further undergirds the theory that quality lamb production is possible under intensified drylot conditions without recourse to use of vermifuges on the lambs so produced.

¹ From the Colleges of Agr. and Veterinary Medicine and the Agr. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Ill. The support of T. B. Stewart by Training Grant 2E-33 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, to N. D. Levine is acknowledged.

² Dept. of Animal Science. Present address—Government Agr. College, Rewa (M. P.), India.

³ Dept., of Animal Science.

⁴ College of Veterinary Medicine. Present address—Ga. Coastal Plain Exp. Sta., U.S.D.A. Agr. Res. Service, Tifton, Ga.

⁵ College of Veterinary Medicine.