IMPACT OF ALLIUM SATIVUM EXTRACT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS IN ARTIFICIALLY INFESTED WEST AFRICAN DWARF GOATS

Abstract

The quest to explore natural alternatives as a replacement for conventional management of helminths, necessitates the investigation of Allium sativum in the treatment of Haemonchus contortus. Twenty-five West African Dwarf goats were divided into five groups containing five animals per replicate. They were randomly assigned to five treatment groups: 7.5, 12.5, 17.5 mg/ml of the extract of A. sativum, 10 mg/ml of albendazole (positive control), and saline water (negative control). Data were collected on performance, and faecal egg counts of the animals. The results showed that final weight (8.77 - 10.64 kg), weight gain (1.33 - 2.10 kg), daily weight gain (23.77 - 37.48 g), dry matter intake (392.05 - 430.15 g/day) and feed conversion ratio (10.64-14.23) were significantly (P< 0.05) influenced. Final weight obtained in the group drenched with albendazole was comparable to values obtained in animals treated with various levels of the A. sativum extract. The comparable feed conversion ratio was obtained from the group drenched with albendazole (10.64) and 12.5 mg/ml of the extract (12.71). Faecal egg counts reduced across the treatment groups in which A. sativum worked alike compared with conventional albendazole. It could be recommended that A. sativum extract can be used in the management of Haemonchus contortus as well as improve the performance of WAD goats