Abstract
Goats (Capra hircus) are valued assets for resource poor farmers globally. Parasitic infections, especially Haemonchus contortus (Trichostrongylid), impact health and production of goats globally. The present study was therefore, intended to evaluate indigenous goat breeds (Teddy and Beetal) of Punjab, Pakistan for their resilience and resistance to experimental infection of H. contortus. Of 60 goats, 30 each of Teddy and Beetal breeds were further divided into six groups, each consisting of five goats. Four groups of each breed received challenged infection with 12000 and 18000 L-3 (third stage) larvae of H. contortus under two infection protocols viz; early and trickle and remaining two groups of each breed were kept as controls. Resilience and resistance of each breed was determined on the basis of comparative phenotypic markers like: faecal egg counts (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), FAMACHA scores, live body weight (LW), total serum protein (TSP), serum albumin (SA) and worm count on 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week post artificial infection with H. contortus. Teddy breed showed significantly (P<0.05) better assessment rank based on phenotypic markers and tendency to resist in response to H. contortus infection as compared to Beetal. The sustainable goat farming should include Teddy as important entity to minimize the issue of anthelmintic resistance. Further, evaluation of genetic markers like: quantitative trait loci (QTLs), genes of major histocomplexcity, protein expression, immunoglobulins, histamines and specific interleukins are recommended for future studies, which can be helpful to explore genetic potential of goat breeds on the basis of their molecular makers. (C) 2016 Friends Science Publishers