Effect of feeding Moringa oleifera leaves on growth, haematobiochemical profiles and puberty in Malabari doelings

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaves on reproductive performance in Malabari doelings. Apparently healthy Malabari kids (n=32) of age three months were selected and randomly allocated to two different treatment groups. Control group (T1, n= 16) was fed with complete feed as pellets and experimental group (T2, n=16) was given complete feed pellets in which 50 per cent of concentrate was replaced with M. oleifera leaves on dry matter (DM) basis. The mean initial and final body weight and dry matter intake did not differ significantly but showed a linear increase in both the groups. Haematological parameters (Hb, Haematocrit, TEC, TLC) did not vary significantly between groups, however, mean total protein was significantly higher (p< 0.05) and mean ALT was significantly lower in T2. Post weaning mean progesterone profile remained less than 1ng/mL until fifth month of age, showed significant increase during sixth month (T1- 0.24 ng/mL, T2- 0.44ng/mL; p< 0.5) and was elevated more than 1ng/mL during seventh month in T2 (T1- 0.72 ± 0.22 ng/mL, T2- 1.14 ± 0.29 ng/mL). First behavioural oestrus was observed during sixth month age without any significant variation. The present study revealed safe and effective means of replacing 50 per cent concentrate feed with in M. oleifera leaves in Malabari doelings in advancing puberty without affecting the growth performance.