The establishment, composition and severity of infection of gastro-intestinal parasites and their impact on productivity of Tswana kids in southern Botswana

The presence of gastro-intestinal parasites in Tswana kids (n = 7) aged 1-3 weeks was studied for a period of 6 months at the Botswana College of Agri culture. The aims of this study were to find the time when they first contr acted internal parasite infections, as well as to determine the severity of the infections and also its relation to production indicators (body mass a nd packed cell volume) of the kids as they grew older. The results indicate that they contracted coccidial and roundworm infections at approximately o ne month of age or immediately thereafter. The most prevalent internal para site was coccidia, which occurred throughout the study period followed by r oundworms and the least was the tapeworm, Moniezia expansa. Generally, the infection levels of all internal parasites were lower than the critical mea n log (faecal oocyst/egg count + 1) of 3.3 inferred to cause reduced produc tion in small stock. The correlation coefficients were all positive; 0.4-0. 9 for individual internal parasites and production indicators, indicating t hat these internal parasites did not have any adverse effects on production . It was concluded that there was no need to treat kids of this age group f or internal parasites.