Effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Dry Leaf Powder Supplementation on Production Performance and Economics of Lactating Rathi Cows

India is the world’s largest livestock population holding country. In India, livestock is an integral component of agricultural production system and it makes a multifactorial contribution to the growth and development of this sector. Rathi is an important breed of cattle that is mainly found in Rajasthan’s desert regions. It is a dual-purpose indigenous cattle breed; nowadays considered a milch breed. Rathi cattle are well known for their ability to withstand the harsh agro-climatic conditions in Rajasthan’s arid and semi-arid zones and have a high potential for milk production even in dry conditions (Chouhan et al., 2021). The lactation length of Rathi cattle varies between 280-340 days; the lactation yield ranges between 1,100 to 3,000 liters; dry period is 116 to 178 days and the peak yield is 6 to 10 liters (Purohit and Sharma, 2001).
       
In tropical livestock production systems, Underfeeding is one of the most significant constraints due to the limited availability of high quality feed and fodder (Pfister and Baccini, 2005; Olafadehan and Adewumi, 2009). These limitations led to low milk production and growth rates, which resulted in lower farmer income (Olafadehan and Adewumi, 2008; de Leeuw et al., 1999). This is especially noticeable during the dry season, when natural pastures are mature and dry, with low nutritional value. During the dry season, concentrate feeding levels are also low because it is typically unaffordable to supplement with conventional concentrates (de Leeuw et al., 1999). As a result, there is a need to find a replacement, cost efficient supplements that can be grown by dairy farmers and are accessible all year. This will aid farmers in raising the nutritional status of dairy animals in tropical regions, which will enhance the financial health of the dairy production system (Mendieta-Araica et al., 2011). In the recent years, Moringa is being considered to be used as an effective alternative to conventional diets for livestock. The remarkable nutritional and phytochemical composition of Moringa oleifera along with low amount of anti-nutritional factors, makes it suitable for animal feed. It has long been known that the plant moringa (Moringa oleifera) is an excellent source of protein for raising livestock (Rizwan et al., 2022). Moringa is known for its medicinal benefits. Its leaves are rich in vitamins minerals and proteins. The leaves as well as the fruits of this tree are used to cure several diseases (Selmi et al., 2020). The most widely cultivated tree species in the Moringaceae family is Moringa oleifera an Indian native plant, which is very nutritive and grows in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide (Bellostas et al., 2010).
       
The Moringa oleifera is recognised as a potential non-traditional fodder due to the presence of high nutrient content and low levels of anti-nutritional factors. Moringa is also known by various local names such as Saijihan, Sajna, Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Benzolive, Kelor, Marango, Mlonge and Mulangay (Fahey, 2005). Moringa has a variety of essential nutrients i.e. vitamins, minerals, amino acids, beta-carotene, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (Fahey, 2005; Hsu et al., 2006; Kasolo et al., 2010). Many researchers examined the impact of Moringa oleifera leaves on the production and reproduction performance, physiological and biochemical profiles of goats, sheep and chickens. However, there aren’t many reports on the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation in large ruminants especially in Rathi cows; thus the current study was carried out to examine the impact of Moringa oleifera dry leaf powder supplementation on the production performance of lactating Rathi cows.

The study was undertaken at the Livestock Research Station Bikaner, Directorate of Research, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner, which is situated at northwest semiarid region of Rajasthan. Fifteen lactating Rathi cows were selected at the Livestock Research Station and divided into three treatment groups, each with five cows. The cows were allotted to different treatment groups based on nearness of their body weight (avg. 348.8 kg), parity and lactation stage. Experimental Rathi cows were reared in a loose housing system and fed a basal diet with concentrate (Saras Gold, a product of Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation), roughage (ground nut fodder and wheat straw) and seasonal green fodders with mineral mixture and common salt. Concentrate and supplemented feed was fed to experimental cows at milking time individually. The hand milking method was adopted for milking animals in the morning and afternoon at 5:00 AM and 4:00 PM, respectively.
       
Sixty days trial was conducted consisting of 14 days of adjustment and 46 days of sampling period to evaluate the effect of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) dry leaf powder supplementation on lactating Rathi cattle. In control group (T₀), cows were fed a basal diet without any Moringa supplementation. However, cows in T₁ and T₂ groups were fed a basal diet along with Moringa oleifera dry leaf powder supplementation @ 10g and 20 g per 100 kg body weight, respectively. The nutritional requirements of cows were met as per NRC (2001). Moringa oleifera supplementation was given at the time of milking and clean water was supplied ad libitum. A good quality moringa (Moringa oleifera) dry leaf powder was procured from a recognised firm in Bikaner City (Rajasthan) in the required quantity. The chemical composition of the concentrate mixture and Moringa leaf powder on a per cent dry matter basis was estimated as per AOAC (2005) and has been presented in Table 1.
 

       
Individual milk yield was measured twice a day, at 5:00 AM and 4:00 PM, using a digital weighing machine at each milking. Milk samples were collected aseptically from all experimental cows at every 7day interval on the 15^th, 22^nd, 29^th, 36^th, 42^nd, 56^th and 60^th days of the experimental period. Approximately 200 ml of milk from all four quarters was collected in a sterilized vial. Milk compositions (percentage of Milk fat, protein, lactose, SNF and total solids) were estimated using an automatic milk analyzer (LactoScope FT-A). The somatic cell count in milk was carried out as explained by Schalm et al., (1971). While, milk smears were stained with Giemsa stain.
 
In the present experimental design, the collected data were subjected to the one-way ANOVA method of statistical analysis described by Snedecor and Cochran (2004). Wherever the variance ratio (F-values) was found significant at 05% and 01% levels of probability, the significance of mean differences was tested by Duncan’s new multiple range test (DNMRT) as modified by Kramer (Kramer, 1956).

The results of the present investigation showed (Table 2) an increasing trend in daily average milk yield in both Moringa oleifera leaf powder supplemented groups during the experimental period, but no significant difference (P>0.05) was found in overall daily average milk yield between the control and supplemented groups. The overall daily average milk yield (Kg) was found 7.81, 8.1 and 8.26 in T₀, T₁ and T₂ groups, respectively. This beneficial effect of Moringa oleifera dry leaf powder supplementation on production performance might be due to improved feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation conditions (Mendieta-Araica et al., 2011; Cohen-Zinder et al., 2016; Kholif et al., 2018). The higher milk production in cows fed M. oleifera was due to its high anti-oxidative activity (associated with its high phenolic components), which has beneficial effects on productive ruminants (Cohen-Zinder et al., 2016). The possible reason for an increase in milk yield was increased propionic acid concentrations in the rumen when the animal was fed Moringa oleifera because propionate is the precursor for gluconeogenesis and lactogenesis. A curvilinear increase in milk yield was seen when glucogenic precursors were increased (Rigout et al., 2003).
 

       
The percent of milk fat, lactose and total solids was reported significantly higher (P<0.01) in both T₁ and T₂ groups as compared to the control group, while SNF was found significantly higher (P<0.05) in T₂ group as compared to T₁ and T₀ groups. Cows supplemented with Moringa dry leaf powder had no significant impact (P>0.05) on milk protein per cent. The increased milk fat per cent in Moringa supplemented groups might be due to enhanced fiber digestibility (Kholif et al., 2015). This increased fiber digestibility leads to an increase in ruminal acetate concentration, which is the precursor for fat biosynthesis (Linn, 1988).
       
The higher milk lactose percent observed in the present investigation could be attributed to enhanced organic matter digestibility and ruminal propionate concentrations (Kholif et al., 2018). According to Vanhatalo et al., (2003), higher ruminal propionate concentrations result in an increase in lactose synthesis. The biosynthesis of lactose is primarily dependent on the concentration of propionate, which is the main gluconeogenic volatile fatty acid. The volatile fatty acid proportion in the rumen might be altered due to the positive effects of Moringa oleifera leaves and their secondary metabolites, which hinder the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and favors the propionate-producing bacteria species and ultimately lead to an increased propionate proportion in the rumen (Wallace et al., 2002). The unaffected protein content in milk by including Moringa oleifera in the diet of dairy cows was probably due to supply of optimum levels of fiber and protein in the basal diets (Kholif et al., 2015; Babiker et al., 2017; Choudhary et al., 2018 and Zhang et al., 2018).
       
The SCC in milk of rathi cows was significantly lower (P<0.05) in T₂ group as compared to T₀ groups, but no significant variation (P>0.05) was observed between T₁ and T₀ groups. The T₂ group had the lowest overall mean SCC×10³/ml of milk, followed by the T₁ and T₀ groups, with values of 133.49, 146.91 and 175.85, respectively. The lower SCC counts in cows fed Moringa leaf powder supplement in the present study might be due to increase in milk antioxidant capacity. This might be attributed to the beneficial synergistic interactions between the high antioxidant nutrients, phenolic compounds and flavonoids found in Moringa oleifera leaves. The functional antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolics, Vitamin E and Se found in Moringa oleifera leaves also induce anti-inflammation activities in the mammary gland (Kekana et al., 2020). Lactating dairy cows given a flavonoids-rich herbal supplement showed a decrease in the incidence of mastitis. (Hashemzadeh-Cigari et al., 2014).
       
According to the economics of the experiment, Moringa oleifera-supplemented groups had higher profits compared to the control group due to an increase in milk yield and milk total solids during the experiment period. The per day profit (Rs.) was found to be 231.7, 256.8 and 265.6 in the T₀, T₁ and T₂ groups, respectively. Relative economic efficiency was also higher in both Moringa dry leaf powder supplemented groups than in the control group. In comparison to the control group, relative economic efficiency was 8% and 6% higher in the T₂ and T₁ groups, respectively. Shankhpal et al., (2019) also observed that replacing hybrid Napier with Moringa fodder results in an increased average net daily income of 46.21 rupees (P<0.01). According to Sonkar et al., (2020), feeding cost per kg milk production were reduced in Moringa oleifera supplemented groups as compared to control group and the profit from sales of milk was increased in moringa-supplemented groups compared to control group with the improved economic efficiency of T₁ and T₂ groups by 8 % and 19%, respectively.

The present study concludes that Moringa oleifera is a highly nutritious plant that contains various antioxidant properties, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids which have reflected in the improvement in milk yield, milk composition and milk quality by reducing SCC; thus improving net daily income of dairy farmers. Therefore, Moringa oleifera can be recommended as a supplement in the diets of lactating Rathi cows.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the officer in-charge Livestock Research Station, Bikaner, Rajasthan University of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Bikaner, for their continuous support and the requisite facilities they provided.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.