INFLUENCE OF SOYBEAN-MEAL SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE RESISTANCE OF SCOTTISH BLACKFACE LAMBS TO HEMONCHOSIS

Protein supplementation improves the resistance of sheep to haemonchos is. This experiment investigated the Scottish blackface breed to estab lish whether dietary protein supplementation is still beneficial in a genetically resistant breed. Lambs were given either a basal diet or a diet supplemented with soyabean meal to give an additional 80 g crude protein kg dry matter(-1). The lambs were given an initial loading do se of Haemonchus contortus, followed by a trickle infection for 10 wee ks. The weight gains of the lambs given the supplemented diet were gre ater and their carcases were leaner, irrespective of infection status. Infected animals on the basal diet were more anaemic and hypoalbumina emic than animals receiving the supplemented diet, although there were no statistically significant differences in mean worm burdens or faec al egg counts.