Theng Kouch et al., 2006. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 18 (6): 87

The on-farm trial was conducted for an 8-month period from February to September 2004, in Lvea Em District, Kandal province. February through May was the end of the dry season, the rains beginning in June and continuing through September with severe flooding in the last two months. 12 farmers participated in the trial. They were allocated to 4 treatments according to a 2*2 factorial arrangement with three replications. The treatments were: G, grazing in the natural pasture only; GI, grazing and ivermectin injection; GS, grazing and supplementation with kapok foliage ( Ceiba pentandra) when confined in the evening; and GSI, grazing, supplementation with kapok foliage and ivermectin injection. Each farmer was given 2 male goats (local breed). Growth rates were twice as high in the dry season (range of 98 to 112 g/day than in the wet season (24 to 50 g/day)), when much of the natural grazing area was flooded. Growth rates were increased by supplementation in the wet season but not in the dry season and were not affected by Ivermectin treatment in either season. Nematode egg counts in faeces were in the low to medium category (200 to 800 EPG). They were less in goats treated with Ivermectin compared with untreated controls, but were not affected by supplementation. Supplementation with kapok foliage appears to be a viable option to improve the nutritional status of goats during periods of the year when grazing is restricted.