Selfmedicative Behavior and Tanniferous Fodder Plants: Alteration in Taste Perception and Feed Preferences of GIN-Infected Boer Goats

Nematode infections are a common thread in ruminant livestock and excessive usage of conventional anthelmintics led to emergence of resistant nematode populations. This underlines the relevance of paradigm shift towards a sustainable control approach of nematode infections.

In this study, possible changes in taste perception and in feed preferences of goats were scrutinized to prove ascertained higher feed intake of tanniferous plants by goats in case of nematode-infection.

Feed preferences of 18 Boer goats were analyzed via cafeteria-trial (12 weeks) regarding influence of changes in health status from non-infected to infected. Goats were divided in different groups: I) Non-infected+feeding-trial II) Infected+feeding-trial III) Infected without feeding-trial. The cafeteria-trial was conceptualized with pellets of tanniferous plants (leaves of sainfoin, willow, walnut, blackberry) of various tannin-contents and tannin-free hay pellets. After four weeks a mixed nematode-infection was administered to group II) and III).

Besides feed intake and selection procedure, blood parameters, saliva composition and feces were analyzed on weekly basis in order to make assessments of the course of infection and potential shifts in feed preferences due to changes of taste perception.

Analysis of trial data revealed an alteration from tannin-free (hay) and low tannin-containing feed (sainfoin) to higher tannin-contents (walnut, blackberry) in the course of infection.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021