Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Thomas Taye, Kuleswan Pame, Sanjay K and Shivajee P

Abstract:
The present study was conducted to find the effects of feeding Moringa oleifera leaves on the performance of Pantja goats of Uttarakhand (India) based on their body weight blood parameters and parasitic load. The study was carried out for two age groups of animals i.e., 3and 6 months. Dietary treatment on both the age groups were carried out in the following order: T₀(Control group-3 months) ad libitum grazing + 100% concentrate/animal, T₁(Treatment group-3 months) ad libitum grazing + 80% concentrate + 20%moringa leaves on dry matter basis, T₂ (Control group- 6 months) ad libitum grazing + 100% concentrate/animal, T₃ (Treatment group- 6 months) ad libitum grazing + 60% concentrate + 40% moringa leaves on dry matter basis were fed. The study revealed that the animals fed with moringa leaves have significantly (p<0.05) higher body weights than the control group at both 3 and 6 months of age groups. Blood parameters revealed that supplementation of moringa leaves in the feed of the animals increased haemoglobin concentration, PCV and total erythrocyte count significantly (p<0.05) than the control groups for both the age groups. However, eosinophil and total leucocyte count reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the treatment groups in comparison to the control groups. Other biochemical parameters like the neutrophil, ESR, lymphocyte and monocyte levels did not differ significantly in both the treatment and control groups irrespective of the age groups. Study on the mean faecal egg count per gram on 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th, and 60^th days of feeding showed significantly (p<0.05) reduced count in both the treatment groups compared to the control groups. The feed cost has reduced to a minimum in both the treatment groups compared to control by substitution of moringa leaves at 20% and 40% levels with the concentrate feed at 3 and 6 months age groups, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that feeding of moringa leaves enhances overall blood parameters, which will result in better health thereby improving overall productivity and it will also lower the feed cost.