Weeks (Post-infection)                          Fecal Egg Counts (Mean ± S.D.)*     Kashmir Merino Bakerwall Corriedale 3 16.5±30.4 6 3.3±12.91 12.3±35.18 4 33.2±44.98 26.6±53.00 22.3±37.16 5 83.2±64.55 76.6±59.36 82.6±71.88 6 130±99.64 126±163.51 129±153.29 7 133±101.18 103±118.72 110±123.44 8 196±121.69 180±165.61 185±116.80 9 286±182.70 203±142.00 236±121.69 Packed cell volume: During 4th, 6th and 8th week, PCV values differed (P < 0.05) among these three breeds (Table 2). Compared with initial values (2nd week) of PCV, maximum reduction in PCV values was recorded in BW (7.3%) followed by KM (6.9%) and CD (5.8%) sheep. Nonetheless, PCV criterion (based on natural infection) did not support BW sheep for being superior in natural resistance against H. contortus infection

Table 1: Fecal egg counts in experimental sheep breeds naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus, *number of animals was 20.