Effect of breed and dietary protein supplementation on trickle infection with Haemonchus contortus in lambs

Effect of dietary protein supplementation and repeated Haemonchus contortus infection on clinical and biochemical responses was studied in two breeds of sheep [Malpura (M) and Garole × Malpura cross (GM)]. Thirty two Malpura lambs and 22 GM cross lambs reared in helminth free conditions were used for the study. The animals were randomly allocated to eight treatment groups: Malpura high protein (HP) control (C), Malpura HP infected (I), Malpura low protein (LP) C, Malpura LPI, GM HPC, GM HPI, GM LPC and GM LPI in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. Garole × Malpura cross was comparatively more resistant to H. contortus infection than Malpura and increased dietary protein supply could more effectively prevent the adverse effects of infection in lambs of the susceptible Malpura breed. No significant effect of high protein nutrition was observed on worm burdens in either of the breeds.