The effect of dietary protein levels before turnout on subsequent faecal nematode egg output of grazing sheep in the Joannina region of Greece

The effect of dietary protein levels before turnout on the subsequent faeca l egg output of gastrointestinal nematodes was examined in two genotypes of grazing sheep, with or without anthelmintic treatment. Lambs were given a low protein (LP) or a high protein (HP) diet for three months (December to March) until grazing started. Half of the animals in each diet group were g iven anthelmintic treatment (AT) in March and June. The four groups (LP-AT, LP-NT, HP-AT and HP-NT) each consisted of pure-bred Butsiko and cross-bred Butsiko/Karamaniko lambs and grazed separate plots that were initially par asitologically and nutritionally similar. Faecal egg counts were recorded m onthly until the experiment ended in July. Mean faecal counts for strongyle -type eggs were higher in the LP-NT group than all the other groups and hig her in the LP than the HP groups indicating that faecal egg counts during g razing were influenced by levels of dietary protein before turnout. This ef fect was intensified in the absence of anthelmintic treatment. No genotype differences were detected.