317. Effect of Non-chemical Dewormers on Gastrointestinal Nematode and Immune Response of Goat Kids.

Abstract Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are significant health and productivity concern for young goats grazing Southeastern pastures. Overreliance on chemical anthelmintics has contributed to widespread resistance among these parasites, underscoring the necessity of non-chemical control strategies. However, no study has been done on non-chemical products to control GIN in grazing young kids. The objective of this study was to evaluate Livamol with BioWorma and Copper Oxide Wire Particles (COWP) on GIN and immunity of goat kids. Female meat goat kids (n = 30, live wt. 16.75 ± 0.57 kg, 3-6 months age) were divided into three uniform groups: COWP, Livamol with BioWorma (BioWorma), and control and rotationally stocked them in separate sets of pasture plots for 84 days from September to December 2025. The BioWorma group was fed Livamol with BioWorma (1 g/kg live wt.) daily and COWP group received COWP orally (1 g/11.34 kg live wt.) only on Day 1 of the study. Forage samples were collected from each plot prior to stocking animals at each rotation and analyzed for productivity and quality (Crude Protein, CP; Acid Detergent Fiber, ADF; Neutral Detergent Fiber, NDF). Fecal samples were collected on the very first day, fortnightly during the study, and the last day of the study, and analyzed for GIN parasite eggs per gram of kid feces (EPG) using the McMaster technique. Blood samples were collected on Day 1 and subsequently every 28 days to determine immunoglobulin (Ig) A and G using ELISA kits. Data were analyzed in SAS 9.4. Overall, forage productivity was the highest in plots where BioWorma group of kids were stocked. Some differences in forage quality occurred among plots allocated to different kid groups. COWP group had the lowest GIN EPG (30-47%) among the groups (p < 0.05). Overall, IgG was the highest in COWP group (10-12%, p < 0.01. Interaction effect occurred in IgG concentration on Days 28 and 84 with higher value shown in COWP group compared to either BioWorma or both BioWorma and Control groups (p < 0.05). Interaction effect in IgA was observed on Day 56 with its lower value in treatment vs. control group (p < 0.01). The results indicate COWP as an effective option for GIN control program in meat goat kids grazing Southeastern pastures.