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Determine nutritional and anti-parasitic benefits of Cleome gynandra for goats
Goat meat inventory in the United States has been declining since 2009 and remains low in grocery stores across the Country due to limited and inconsistent local supply. Consumer perception that goat meat is healthier than traditional red meats (beef, pork and lamb) is driving increased demand. Key factors limiting goat production in the United States include lack of suitable year-round browse and nematode parasitism, mainly Haemonchus contortus. Goat producers in the United States are seeking browse plants that can meet the nutritional needs of animals while providing effective natural remedies against parasites. This study evaluated one such plant, Cleome gynandra (African spider plant), known for its nutritional and anti-parasitic activities beneficial to humans. Consequently, the objective of this study was to determine the nutritional and anti-parasitic benefits derivable from Cleome gynandra (CG) plant by goats. Twenty four female goats (2 to 3 years old) of Savannah breeding (BW = 34.7±3.7 kg) were randomly assigned to four treatments, replicated three times. The treatments were: (i) no CG (Control; CON = 0.00 kg DM CG.goat-1.d-1), (ii) low CG (LCG = 0.08 kg DM CG.goat-1.d-1), (iii) medium CG (MCG = 0.10 kg DM CG.goat-1.d-1), and (iv) high CG (HCG = 0.12 kg DM CG.goat-1.d-1). Each animal was also fed a supplemental diet containing 16% CP at the rate of 0.63 kg DM.d-1 and offered good quality hay ad lib. The study lasted for 28 days; September 25 through October 23, 2015. The animals were weighed, scored for body condition (BCS) and sampled for blood for hematocrit count (packed cell volume = PCV) on day 1 and 28, and sampled for feces to determine parasite eggs per gram of feces (EPG) on day 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The data was subjected to ANOVA of SAS; pen with two goats was the experimental unit. Treatment had no effect (P>0.10) on ADG (0.11 vs. 0.12 kg. d-1), BCS change (0.75 vs. 0.36), PCV change (-2.5% vs. -1.1%) or EPG change (242 vs. 561). Cleome gynandra can be a suitable browse plant for goats, however, further parasitology work is required to establish the phytochemicals present in CG and their efficacy against Haemonchus contortus, related parasites and other pathogens of significance to goats.
Keywords: Cleome gynandra, Nutritional, Anti-parasitic, Haemonchus contortus, Goats