Observations on dry season strongyle infestations of permanent swamps grazed by cattle in Vom area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Herbage samples were taken from 4 permanent swamps (2 heavily and 2 lightly pastured) located in Vom area every fortnight from November 1986 - April 1986 and November 1986 - April 1987. Larvae were extrac­ted by washing and sedimentation and counts expressed as number of larvae per kg dry herbage. Worm larvae seen in faecal cultures were differentiated as Haemonchus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum and these formed the bulk, Trichostrongylus, Bunostomum and Strongyloi­des were also seen but these were generally few. Lightly pastured permanent swamps were lightly infested and heavily pastured were contaminated with corresponding high infectivity. Heavily contamina­ ted pastures are with risk from mid dry to late dry season. Dry season routine treatment is therefore necessary for cattle with access to swamps during the dry season especially heavily contaminated ones.