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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2017
The consumption of condensed tannins has been associated with reduced faecal egg counts (FEC) and total worm burdens (TWB) in parasitised sheep. This can result from either a direct anthelmintic effect (Athanasiadou et al., 2000) and/or an indirect nutritional effect. Condensed tannins can protect dietary protein from rumen degradation and increase protein availability in the small intestine of the host; this could improve the expression of immunity towards parasites (Coop and Kyriazakis, 1999). The objective of the present study was to investigate the consequences of including a condensed tannin extract in foods of different protein content on the performance and development of immunity in parasitised sheep, during the phases of acquisition and expression of immunity.