2 Combating damaging parasites in goats and sheep RIU Pocket ...

animals are not receiving a sufficiently nutritiousdiet and can also help to single out animals thatare genetically susceptible to parasites. Farmerscan then select and breed from stronger, moreresistant animals.Controlling stomach nematodes before animalsget sick also allows farmers to help livestock togrow faster and bigger. This means that femalescan breed more efficiently, and that males can besold sooner. It also makes animals simpler tomanage, as it is generally easier to care foranimals that are healthy.Controlling stomachnematodes beforeanimals get sick alsoallows farmers to helplivestock to grow fasterand biggerSimple, cheap IgA tests are currently beingdeveloped for use by farmers—so look out forthese in the future.Recognising the signs of parasiteinducedanaemiaAnaemia is a sign of parasitism. Scientists havedeveloped a system known as FAMACHA © thathelps livestock keepers to discover whether ananimal is anaemic—and to what degree—bycomparing the colour of the mucous membranesof its eyes with colours on a specially preparedset of cards. In this way, farmers can identifyanimals suffering from nematode infection andtarget them for treatment.Above & below left: TheFAMACHA © system provides asimple, hands-on means ofdetecting parasite-inducedanaemia in goats and sheep.It involves comparing thecolour of the pink mucousmembrane around the eyewith a colour chart.Photos: K. Campbell3

Research into Use: Pocket Guide No. 26How to make low-cost UMB cont.How UMB work1. Weigh 3.9 kg of molasses and place it in alarge bowl.2. Add 500 g of common salt and 1 kg of ureaand mix well by hand.3. Store this mixture overnight or for at least12 hours.4. Thoroughly mix the contents of the bowl byhand once more.5. Add the wheat bran, rice polishings (husks),and lime (which were previously kept inseparate bowls) and mix well by hand.6. Fill a 9-inch long, 5-inch wide and 5-inch high(or similar sized) container with the mixtureand apply pressure to shape the block. (Ablock prepared in this way usually weighs 2.5kg. The mixture can also be pressed in thebowl in which it was prepared. Remember touse a strong container.)7. Remove the block from the container and letit harden for 15 hours, after which it will beready for consumption by the animals.Animals should consume the UMB by licking.Care should be taken to ensure that they cannotbite the blocks (for instance, the blocks can beplaced in a metal "cage"). If necessary, theanimals can be encouraged to lick the block byspreading salt or bran on it.Molasses provides a fermentable substrate aswell as minerals (calcium) and trace elements. Itspleasant taste and smell makes urea–molassesblocks attractive to animals. Molasses also helpsto solidify the blocks.Urea provides fermentable nitrogen, the mostimportant component of the block. Nitrogenmakes forage easier to digest and compensatesfor the loss of protein through parasitism. It doesso by promoting microbial fermentation of theforage, which in turn leads to increasedavailability of protein after rumination.Wheat or rice bran provides key nutrients (e.g.fat, protein, and phosphorus), soaks up moisture,and helps solidify the blocks. It may be replacedby other fibrous materials (e.g., dry and finelycrushed sugar cane or groundnut hulls).A gelling agent, or binder, is needed to solidifythe blocks. Several products can be used,including magnesium oxide, bentonite, calciumoxide (lime), and calcium hydroxide.Crop residues and by-products can beincluded to provide additional nutrients, accordingto their availability.Minerals may be added if available. Salt, whichis inexpensive, is generally added becauseanimals often do not get enough in their diets.Above: Nutritious urea-molasses feedblocks arecheap and easy to make. Used as a supplement,they help animals fight parasites.Photo: S. Khan/S. SiddikiChemicals or drugs may be added to controlparasites or to manipulate the fermentation offood in animals' rumens.

Tools, guidelines and contactIf you want to find out more, here are some toolsand guidelines that may be helpful.1. The FAMACHA © system2. Goatkeepers' Animal Health Care Manual3. Worms in your Goats, Sheep and Cattle4. Smallstock Toolbox5. Tannins and WormsContactFor more information on the tools and guidelinesabove, please contact Dr Wyn Richards(w.richards@nrint.co.uk), at the Research intoUse Programme, NR International, Park House,Bradbourne Lane, Aylesford, KentME20 6SN, UK.Also see the websites www.lpp.uk.com andwww.dfid-ahp.org.ukAbout this seriesResearch into Use Pocket Guides showcase newtechnologies that have been tried and tested, andhave proven successful in the field. They wereproduced to demonstrate the importance of highqualityscientific communication.This Pocket Guide was developed from researchfunded by the UK Department for InternationalDevelopment (DFID), Animal Health Programme(Project R8151). The views expressed are notnecessarily those of DFID.RIU is managed by Natural ResourcesInternational Ltd., in partnership with NkoolaInstitutional Development Associates Ltd. (NIDA)and Michael Flint and Performance AssessmentResource Centre. RIU is funded by DFID.www.researchintouse.comThe Pocket Guide series was developed, written, designed andprinted for RIU by SCRIPTORIA (www.scriptoria.co.uk)