Abstract
The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of including different forms of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in the diets of goats. Sixteen lactating Anglo-Nubian goats (36.2±0.7kg) were used in quadruplicated 4×4 Latin square design for 88days. M. oleifera as fresh foliage, hay or silage replacing 750g/kg dry matter (DM) of sesame meal were evaluated against a basal diet without M. oleifera (sesame meal as the sole protein source) as a control diet. M. oleifera leaf meal was ensiled for 60days, whereas hay was made after air drying for 10days. Goats fed M. oleifera silage or fresh biomass had higher (P<0.05) DM intake (DMI) and digestibility of most nutrients compared with the control diet. In addition, DMI was greater (P<0.05) in goats fed M. oleifera silage compared with hay. Feeding all three forms of M. oleifera decreased (P<0.05) ruminal ammonia-N concentration and increased (P<0.05) the proportion of ruminal propionate. Higher (P<0.05) ruminal ammonia-N, propionate, and total short-chain fatty acids were noted in goats fed M. oleifera silage compared with hay. M. oleifera diets decreased (P<0.05) blood serum triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations and increased (P<0.05) serum glucose compared with the control. Moreover, feeding M. oleifera diets resulted in higher (P<0.05) milk yield, energy-corrected milk and milk contents of protein and lactose than for the control diet, and higher (P<0.05) milk fat contents were noted in goats fed M. oleifera fresh biomass and hay compared with the control diet. Feeding M. oleifera increased (P<0.05) total unsaturated fatty acids and total conjugated linoleic acid of milk and decreased (P<0.05) saturated fatty acids. It is concluded that feeding different forms of M. oleifera to replace 750g/kg DM of sesame meal enhanced feed utilization, ruminal fermentation, milk yield and composition in lactating Anglo-Nubian goats. The best performance was observed in goats fed M. oleifera silage followed by fresh M. oleifera and then M. oleifera hay.
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