Effect of Natural Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infection on Fattening Performance of Sudan Desert Sheep

Forty eight Sudan desert lambs were used in a-2 month fattening trial to evaluate the effect of natural gastrointestinal parasitic infection on fattening performance of old (2 years and up) and young (milk teeth) lambs fed isonitrogenous (CP: 16.11%) high (12.24 MJ/kg) high and low (10.35 MJ/kg) energy diets. Average daily gain, final body weight and total body weight gain showed a significantly (P<0.001) high differences. Infection along with low energy played a very important role resulting the worst performance plus high mortality. Significant differences were recorded in slaughter weights, the highest one was that of old lamb group, treated for internal parasites and given high energy diet (39.67 kg). It was 40.76% higher than the lowest treatment group which was the young infected given low energy diet. Empty body weight, dressing percentage and muscle percentage were (P<0.05) higher in the treated groups.