Influence of Moringa oleifera foliage supplementation on feed intake, rumen fermentation and microbial profile of goats

Abstract

To study the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on nutrient intake, rumen fermentation and microbial profile of goats, three rumen cannulated adult male goats (Capra hircus) with average body weight of 19±1.0 kg were allotted to three treatments in 3×3 Latin square design. The treatments were, control: fed on basal diet (wheat straw and concentrate mixture in 50:50 ratios), MOL10: basal diet supplemented with MOL@ 10% of dry matter intake (DMI) and MOL20: basal diet supplemented with MOL@ 20% of DMI. To make isonitrogenous diet, three concentrate mixtures of 17.0, 15.2 and 13.0% crude protein (CP) for three groups, respectively, were prepared. The dry matter intake, rumen pH, concentration of rumen metabolites like total VFA, molar proportion of VFAs, NH3-N and microbial enzymes were unaffected due to supplementation of MOL. There was no change in the rumen microbial population (Log 10 number) of total bacteria, methanogens, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavifaciens, Butyrovibrio fibrisolvens, rumen fungi and protozoa. The results indicated that feeding of Moringa oleifera leaves did not affect rumen environment hence rumen enzyme and microbial population also remained unchanged.