Susceptibility to natural gastro-intestinal nematode infection in different physiological stages in Jamunapari and Barbari goats in the semi-arid tropics

Resistance to naturally acquired gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasite infections (predominantly Haemonchus) of 212 Jamunapari and 163 Barbari goats (does) were studied in different physiological stages, namely pregnant, dry and lactating stages in a semi-arid region of India. The faecal egg counts (FECs) for GI nematode infections were examined in different physiological stages in both the breeds in two periods, i.e. an early period (October–November) and a late period (February–March). Analysis was carried out on loge(FEC+100) transformed data, accounting for repeated records on does, during early and late periods. Breed had significant effect on FEC in early and late periods in pregnant, dry and lactating does. Breed by physiological interaction had significant effect on FEC in both the early and late periods. Jamunapari lactating goats had significantly higher FEC than that of dry and pregnant does but there was no peri-parturient rise in FEC in the resistant Barbari goats. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.