Project Number: 6227-32630-001-30
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 01, 2005
End Date: Mar 31, 2009

Objective:
Objectives are to 1) increase level of adoption of available sustainable gastrointestinal nematode control strategies in the southeastern USA and Puerto Rico, 2) investigate use of existing and developing novel non-chemical approaches for controlling gastrointestinal nematode in small ruminants, and 3) develop and test sustainable small ruminant parasite control systems integrating conventional and novel gastrointestinal nematode control strategies.

Approach:
Producer and advisor workshops will be held on smart drenching and use of FAMACHA that include education and training on these integrated programs (this will be conducted by all cooperators). The following will be examined: 1) test the anthelmintic potential of condensed tannins (CT) in sericea lespedeza (SL) as part of the small ruminant diet (conducted by ARS-AR for lambs, LSU for breeding ewes, FVSU for goats), 2) test the potential anthelmintic effect of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) on H. contortus infection (conducted by ARS-AR for lambs, LSU for breeding ewes, FVSU for goats), 3) test potential of using the FAMACHA system for identification of GIN-resistant sheep and goats (conducted by all cooperators), 4) test the potential of Duddingtonia flagrans as a biological control agent against parasitic nematodes of small ruminants (conducted by LSU and FVSU), 5) test H. contortus hidden gut antigen as a means to vaccinate goats against infection (conducted by LSU and FVSU), 6) experiments using combinations of conventional (anthelmintic treatment) and novel (FAMACHA, CT-containing forages, COWP, nematode-trapping fungi, vaccination and breeding for resistance) control technologies will be conducted to determine possible synergistic or antagonistic effects between the different control methods being evaluated and cost-benefit analysis will be used to determine the economic feasibility of each of the integrated control programs tested within this project (initially conducted by ARS-AR, LSU, FVSU and on-farm testing will be conducted by all cooperators).