Ingestion of Mindi ('Melia azaedarach') leaves by uninfected and H. contortus-infected Kacang goats

Abstract

When given choices, sheep infected with internal parasites choose higher protein feeds presumably to compensate for increased protein requirements (Kyriazakis et al. I 994 ., Knox et al. 1997) and there is anecdotal evidence that parasitised ruminants show a preference for feeds with anthelmintic properties. In West Timor and surrounding islands, farmers feed Mindi (a local name for 'Melia azedarach') leaves to their cattle during the dry season but seldom use it as a dietary supplement for goats. We made a preliminary in vitro study that indicated Mindi ('Melia azaedarach') leaves are relatively high in crude protein (about 21%) and also contain anthelmintic–like substance(s) that killed more than half of the 'Haemonchus contortus' in a faecal larval culture.