Effects of Supplementing Different Quantities of Moringa stenopetala Leaves on Plasma Metabolite and Acylcarnitine Profile, Body Condition Score and Milk Yield Performance in Zebu (Bos indicus) Cattle

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition Vol. 109; no. 1; pp. 162 - 169
• Main Authors: Worku, Ketema, Kechero, Yisehak, Janssens, Geert P. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2025
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; animal nutrition; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Blood; blood glucose; blood metabolites; blood serum; Body Composition - drug effects; body condition; body condition score; butyrates; Carnitine - analogs & derivatives; Carnitine - blood; carnitines profile; Cattle; Cattle - blood; Cattle - physiology; complementary foods; Cow's milk; Creatinine; Dairy cattle; Dairy farming; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements; dose response; Female; Glucose; Jugular vein; Lactation - drug effects; Lactation - physiology; Leaves; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; metabolism; Metabolites; Milk; milk yield; Moringa - chemistry; Moringa stenopetala; Nutrients; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Small farms; Spectrophotometry; Sub-Saharan Africa; tandem mass spectrometry; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides; Urea; zebu; Sub-Saharan Africa; Moringa stenopetala; blood metabolites; milk yield; carnitines profile; body condition score
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/jpn.14043

ABSTRACT The formulation of multi‐nutrient blocks based on low‐cost and locally available browse feed resources can be a valid feeding strategy in Sub‐Saharan Africa, where inadequate feed supply, both in quality and quantity, is a major constraint. We evaluated the four different inclusion percentages (M‐0%, M‐25%, M‐35% and M‐45%) of Moringa stenopetala leaf powder to multi‐nutrient blocks on their change on blood metabolite of dairy cows under practical, ranging conditions. Multi‐nutrient blocks with four inclusion rates of M. stenopetala leaves were applied as complementary feed for free ranging dairy cows. The study was performed on 24 free ranging dairy cows reared around Arba Minch town in the Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of dairy cows both before and after supplementation. Plasma glucose, beta hydroxy butyrate (BHB), urea, creatinine, triglycerides and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration was quantified spectrophotometrically. Dried serum spots were subject to quantitative electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to estimate changes in nutrient metabolism based on selected carnitines. Based on these measurements, the milk yield and body condition score were increased during the period of multi‐nutrient block supplementation. During the supplementation period, the cows got higher plasma glucose, triglyceride and urea concentrations and lower concentrations of BHB, NEFA and creatinine. From the metabolite profiles, a more efficient nutrient use could be concluded. Although no clear dose−response relationship was observed, the highest inclusion of the M. stenopetala leaves in the multi‐nutrient blocks gave the best performance. This outcome supports the idea of implementing M. stenopetala based multi‐nutrient blocks on tropical smallholder farms that are not easily accessible to conventional extension services.