Use of copper oxide wire particles to control gastrointestinal nematodes in goats

¹ USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Booneville, AR, 72927
² Department of Animal Science, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 31030
³ Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; Department of Animal Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803; Department of Veterinary Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
⁴ Department of Agronomy and Soils, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jmburke{at}spa.ars.usda.gov.

	Abstract

The objectives of these experiments were to determine the optimal dose of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) necessary to reduce gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in young and mature goats naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus or a mixed infection and to determine whether effectiveness could be enhanced through feeding management. Two experiments were conducted during cooler months in Georgia and 4 experiments during warmer spring or summer months in Arkansas. Meat goats received 0 or up to 10 g COWP under a variety of management conditions. In all experiments, blood and feces were collected every 3 or 7 d from 6 to 42 d to determine blood packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC) to estimate degree of GIN infection. In mature goats grazing fall pasture, mean FEC of 0 g COWP-treated goats increased and those of 4 g COWP-treated goats remained low on d 0, 7, and 14 (COWP x day, P < 0.03) and FEC decreased on these days (P < 0.001). In 5 and 10 g COWP-treated goats, PCV increased (P < 0.001) but FEC and PCV remained unchanged over time in control goats. Fecal egg counts were similar among all low doses (0.5, 1, 2, 4 g) of COWP administered to weaned kids for all dates examined (P > 0.10), which were lower on d 7 through 21 (COWP x date, P < 0.05) than FEC of 0 g COWP-treated kids, but similar by d 28. Packed cell volume was lower in 0 g compared with all COWP-treated kids by d 14 (COWP x date, P < 0.05). Feeding management in combination with COWP for GIN control had little impact compared with COWP alone for these short term studies. In conclusion, a dose of COWP as low as 0.5 g, which was considered optimal to reduce risk of copper toxicity, was effective in reducing FEC in young goats and 5 g in older goats. Copper oxide does not appear to be effective in controlling newly acquired L4 stage (pre-adult) larvae which also feed on blood, leading to decreased PCV in newly infected goats.

Key Words: copper oxide, goats, gastrointestinal parasites, sericea lespedeza

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