The use of indigenous parasitic plant (Viscum verrocosum) in reducing faecal egg counts in female Tswana goats

A study was carried out to evaluate the potential benefit of feeding a diet containing Viscum verrucosum on reducing faecal egg count (FEC) in female Tswana goats. Twelve animals, which had naturally acquired intestinal worms, were used in the study that lasted 29 days. Two groups of animals were balanced for live weight and initial FEC and were randomly allocated to Control (n=6; 16.2±1.11kg; 2.88±0.07 FEC) and Treatment (n=6; 16.9±1.11kg; 2.91±0.07 FEC). The animals were individually penned where they were given the experimental diets and clean water each day at 8.00 am. The Treatment group was given a diet containing V. verrucosum supplying 8.9 g/d condensed tannins; the Control animals were given a V. verrucosum free diet.