Concentration of Progesterone and Prolactin Hormones and Milk Production of New Zealand White Rabbits Doe Fed Moringa Leaves Meal

Abstract

The research objectives were to measure the concentration of progesterone and prolactin hormone and milk production of New Zealand White rabbit’s doe fed with moringa leaves meal. Blood sample was taken and centrifuged to separate serum and plasma. Then, the blood serum was analyzed applying ELISA method using ELISA kit EIA 1561 for progesterone hormone and rabbit prolactin ELISA kit cat no. E-EL-RB1223 for prolactin hormone. The milk production was measured daily by weighting the body weight of rabbit kids before and after milking. Data analysis using anova method applying program SPSS version 20 for windows. Moringa leaves meal fed tends to increase the concentration of progestrone hormone during pregnancy period and it decline sharply in post natal. The higher the level of moringa leaves meal, the higher the production of prolactin hormone at natal period. This fact doe to amino acids content of moringa leaf meal particularly essential amino acids. The main function of amino acid was in hormone and transmitter synthesis. Decrease of prolactin inhibitor and increase of prolactin secretion at natal period as an effect of amino acids content in moringa leaves meal. Increasing of prolactin level will followed by milk excretion. Increase of milk production caused by galactogogue effect of moringa leaves meal. The increasing of moringa leaves meal level influences milk production in milking period and produces a higher body weight at post weaning period comparing with without the moringa leaves meal. Using moringa leaves meal is suggested in order it increase livestock milk production in dry land areas to overcome kid’s mortality problem.