Preliminary observations on the vermicompost made from Faecal Pellets of Ivermectin treated goats

The objective of the study was to assess the effect of ivermectin [if any] on the growth of earthworms, constitute and porosity of vermicompost prepared from excreta of ivermectin treated and untreated goat pellets. The pellets voided by treated and untreated goats (goats not injected with ivermectin) were collected separately and 200 earthworms were placed in processed fecal mass of treated and untreated goats. Both the groups were maintained under similar environmental conditions for eight weeks. The growth of earthworms was assessed by manually counting total number of earthworms/8 kg of vermicompost, total weight of earthworm before start and end of experiment, and no. of cocoons per 600 gm of vermicompost. The manual number of earthworm of various sizes counted. It was observed insignificant difference in the two groups and also insignificant in mass difference. Visual differences were also observed between the treated and untreated groups of vermicompost. Decomposition of pellet pats from recently ivemectin treated goats was delayed significantly, and also slight adverse effect on vermicompost constitute prepared from untreated goat pellet. No advese effect of treatment was recorded on earthworm. Faecally excreted ivermecitin inhibits the decomposition rate of pellet delay in formation of vermicompost and also inhibits primary dipteran flies and larvae of dung beetles.