Research Reports

Assessment of Tinospora crispa and Neem (Azadirachta indica) for the Control of Internal Parasites in Pigs of Smallholder Farmers in Luang Prabang Province.

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of Tinospora crispa, Neem and injectable  Ivermectin, for the control of internal parasites in pigs raised by smallholder farmers in Luang Prabang Province. The experiment was conducted among farmers in the villages of Pakkeng  and Hard-Houay in Paxaeng district of Luang Prabang province, in the period between 6  August and 28 November 2016. Sixteen local pigs (8 male and 8 female), 2 to 4 months old  were randomly assigned into four treatment groups by RCBD, the treatment groups being: 
- Group 1: Control
- Group 2: Ivermectin injection (SC)
- Group 3: Tinospora crispa (mixed with feed once per day)
- Group 4: Neem (mixed with feed once per day)
The feed mix provided was based on the farmer’s formula of rice bran 30% + cornmeal 20% + complete feed 20% + cassava roots 10%. The feeding rate per day was computed at a rate of 5% pig body weight. Feaces samples were collected in the different treatments for faecal egg count reduction testing using the Mc Master egg counting technique. The weights of the animals were recorded every 14 days during the period of the experiment. The results showed that pigs which received Tinospora crispa (Group 3) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) (Group 4) responded with a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the number of anthelmintics (Aacaris suum, Trichuris suis, Strongyloides ransomi) and antiprotozoan (Isospora suis) from day 28 to day 112, similar to the response to the drug Ivermectin (Group 2). In terms of growth performance, the pigs which consumed Tinospora crispa had the highest average daily weight gain (ADG) when compared to Ivermectin drug, Neem, and the control group, with average daily weight gains of 311.8, 310.7, 307.8 and 258.5 g/day, respectively. However, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) for Ivermectin (4.73), Neem (5.02), Tinospora crispa (5.03) and the control (5.34) were not statistically significantly (p>0.05).

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Somphanh BOUNYAVONG, Vannaphone PHUTTHANA, SomvangMANOTHAM and Somdee SIVONGSOD