ASSESSMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS FROM FAECAL SAMPLES OF CATTLE AT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FARM, MINNA

The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Gastrointestinal helminths from faecal samples of cattle at the Federal University of Technology Farm Minna, Niger State, Nigeria during the period of April to June 2008 (12 weeks). Fifteen animals were selected from the head of 33 heads of cattle and randomly assigned into three (3) groups designated as groups 1 (calves 1 -12 months of age), group 2 (yearlings 1 -2 years of age) and group 3 (Adults 2 years and above). Five faecal samples were collected weekly from each group for laboratory analysis using direct smear method of faecal sample analysis. Results showed that the overall prevalence of Gastrointestinal helminths in calves, yearlings and Adult cattle were 45, 33.3 and 23.3 % respectively. Heamonchus and Ascarids have the highest level of prevalence in calves with 25 % each. In yearlings, Ascarids and fasciola were high with 30 % and 20 % respectively while in adults Heamonchus was found to have the highest percentage prevalence rate of 35.7 %. Based on these findings it is clearly evident that the level of prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in adult cattle is less than that found in young ones (both yearlings and calves). The need to introduce improved preventive measures of controlling helminths in order to protect the entire cattle population against the parasites is strongly recommended.