Effect of Moringa oleifera leaves powder in diets of lactating buffaloes

Abstract

Abstract Background Egyptian water buffalo as a dairy animal is adapted to the environmental conditions in Egypt and most of it is with small farmers, therefore, it was necessary to pay attention to improve its nutrition, increase its milk production, and improve its components by adding some feedstuffs of high nutritional value as Moringa oleifera which is a rapidly growing plant that is planted in tropical and subtropical area, in addition its leaves have high nutritive value, and it contains anti-oxidative and bioactive compounds, low anti-nutrient content and high amount of magnesium, which has positive effects on milk yield. Results The results revealed that, daily milk or 4% FCM yields was significantly (P < 0.05) highest for diet supplemented by 50 g Moringa olifera leaves powder (MOLP, R2) compared with the other groups. By increasing MOLP supplementation level there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in daily milk yield than control. Milk contents of protein, fat and total solids were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, but lactose or solid not fat contents were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased than control with increasing MOLP level. The highest values of dietary nutrients digestibility and nutritive values (TDN and DCP%) were recorded with R2 and the lowest were recorded for R4. Blood serum total protein, albumin and globulin contents were significantly (P < 0.05) higher with feeding MOLP supplemented diets than control particularly for R2 and R3. While, there were significant (P < 0.05) decrease in urea, glucose and cholesterol but creatinine, AST and ALT were gradually increased with increasing MOLP level. Rations supplemented with MOLP was associated with obvious increase (P < 0.05) of antioxidant enzymes (GR, GPx, Cat and SOD) and decrease free radicals and the effect was more pronounced with increasing the supplementation level. Conclusions These results indicated that 50 g Moringa olifera leaves powder supplementation to the diets of milking buffaloes improved milk yield, milk composition, nutrients digestibility, nutritive value and total antioxidant capacity.