EFFECT OF WHOLE COTTONSEED SUPPLEMENTATION ON WORM LOAD IN DJALLONKE SHEEP IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS; A CASE STUDY IN THE SAATINGLI AND ZAAGYULI COMMUNITIES.

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the effect of cottonseed supplementation on worm load in Djallonke sheep in Saatingli and Zaagyuli communities in the Tamale Metropolis. Six Djallonke sheep farmers were randomly sampled from the two adjoining communities. Out of 54 Djallonke sheep, twenty-seven (27)were on cottonseed supplementation whilethe other twenty seven (27) were not supplemented (control). Each treatment comprised nine (9), each of rams, ewes and lambs. The nutrition and general health conditions of the experimental animals were assessed. A weekly microscopic analysis was carried out to determine the levels of internal parasitic load in Djallonke sheep for three weeks. Data collected was analyzed by the use of 2-tailed T-test. Sheep supplemented with cottonseed had lower worm load (1266.7, 2111.1 and 6311.1) for rams, ewe's and lambs respectively than those not supplemented (3566.1, 4922.2 and 16644.4) (p<0.05). Mean focal egg count for ccc-cids in cottonseed supplemented animals were lower (388.9,788.9 and 2677.8) for rams, ewes and lambs respectively than those not supplemented (1266.7, 1355.6 and 3044.4) (p<0.05). Also, fecal egg count for stronqylcs in cottonseed supplemented animals were lower (877.8, 1433.3 and 5188.9) for rams, ewes and Iambs respectively than those not supplemented (2300.0, 3488.9 and ,5188.9) (p <.0.05). It can be concluded that feeding whole cottonseed as a supplement has the ability to reduce worm load. The reduction in worm load in the supplemented animals may be due the presence of gossypol in the whole cotton seed.