Use of condensed tannin as anthelmintic and organic protectant of proteins for ruminants
Sunil Kumar and Narayan Dutta
Parasitic worm infestation can cause serious clinical diseases, welfare problems and loss in production from farm animals. As animal production has become more intensive, the threat of parasitic disease has increased. Infestation with internal parasites causes significant production losses, which typically have reduced immunity to parasites. In this respect, avoidance of re-infestation is more cost effective and biologically sustainable than the use of anthelmintic. Drug resistance has become an important issue in small ruminant husbandry, when anthelmintic are applied at high levels and increasing frequency and inappropriate doses. Over the last few years, the move towards organic farming systems has increased the stress for alternatives to chemoprophylaxis. Improving host resilience and/ or resistance to infection through management practices, which involve manipulation of nutrition, can be one of the components of integrated approach. Use of phyto- chemicals is becoming preferable and may offer better control than anthelmintic to treat parasites. Consumption moderate level of the condensed tannin (CT) may affect GI parasite numbers and animal performance in a number of ways. CT also may react directly by interfering with the parasite egg hatching and development to infective stage larvae. Indirect effects on resistance and resilience could be mediated by improve protein supply which are prioritized for repair and immune response. CT supplementation was also improved the nutrient utilization, productive performance, and immunological (both cell mediated and humoral immune) response in small ruminants. Therefore, CT supplementation in diets of small ruminants may act as natural dewormer without having any residual effect in animal products which is the need of our consumers.
Sunil Kumar, Narayan Dutta. Use of condensed tannin as anthelmintic and organic protectant of proteins for ruminants . J Entomol Zool Stud 2018;6(4):1478-1486.