Evaluation Of The Anthelmintic Efficacy Of Opuntia Ficus-Indica Peel Silage Supplementation In Sheep Naturally Infected With Gastrointestinal Nematodes: A Preliminary In Vivo Study

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) represent a major constraint to small ruminant production worldwide, causing economic losses through impaired growth, reduced milk yield, increased infection susceptibility and mortality. The global pread of anthelmintic resistance has compromised conventional chemotherapeutic control, prompting interest in complementary management strategies. Agro-industrial byproducts rich in bioactive compounds are increasingly investigated as nutraceutical tools within integrated parasite management programmes. Among these, Opuntia ficus-indica peel silage is a promising candidate due to its content of phenolic acids, flavonoids and condensed tannins, associated with antiparasitic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Overall, dietary supplementation with O. ficus-indica peel silage was associated with modest reductions in faecal egg shedding over time, although these effects remained modest and below thresholds generally associated with meaningful anthelmintic activity. The temporal pattern observed, together with slightly higher reductions in groups receiving larger amounts of silage, may suggest a mild nutraceutical modulation of host–parasite interactions rather than a direct anthelmintic effect. Further studies with larger sample sizes, longer monitoring and additional parasitological indicators are needed to clarify the consistency, dose–response relationships and practical relevance of these effects.