Successful experiences on use of Moringa oleifera in animal feeding

Bryan Mendieta Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management, SLU Nadir Reyes & Rosario Rodriguez UNA, Nicaragua Introduction
The aim of this study was to asses the effect of Moringa oleifera as supplementary fodder for cows, pigs and sheep and its effect on their productive variables.

Method
Three experiments were performed with 6 dual purpose Reyna Creole breed, 36 castrated pigs and 18 sheep pelibuey blackbelly. Cows were fed with Brachiaria brizantha hay + 1kg Sugar cane molasses as basal diet; three treatments were performed just basal diet, + 2 kg DM Moringa and + 3 kg DM Moringa. Three treatments were performed with pigs, 100% commercial concentrate, 70% cc + 30% Moringa and 52% cc + 48% Moringa based on Dry Matter. With sheep Panicum maximun was used as basal diet, then one treatment was only basal diet ad libitum and the others were + 0,35 kg DM Moringa and + 0,50 kg DM Moringa. Intake, Average Weight Gain, Feed Conversion, Milk Yield and Milk Composition were measured.
Constituent Concentrate B.

Photo: Typical situation during dry season in Latin America.

Results
The total intakes of cows supplemented daily with 2 kg DM and 3 kg DM of Moringa were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the intake of the unsupplemented cows; Mean daily milk production was significantly (P <0.05) higher for cows offered Moringa supplement than for those offered B. brizantha hay only. Milk composition was not significantly different between the treatments. In pigs use of Moringa significative (P<0.05) reduce Daily Gain from 0,66 kg to 0,37 kg and 0.27 kg respectively; also Feed conversion is significative (P<0.05) increased from 3,71 with concentrate to 8,97 and 12,09 when Moringa level increased. Dry Matter Intake in sheep increase according to Moringa level from 0,57kg in basal diet to 0,73 and 0,80kg with 0,35 kg DM Moringa and 0,50 kg DM of Moringa also Average Weigth Gain in sheep was dramatically increased in 194% and 282% from -1 -1 30,85 g sheep day in basal diet.

brizantha hay DM 896 (0,2) 883 (14,4)

M. oleifera P. maximun

Sugar Cane Molasses 247 (20,7)

164,0 (17)

187,7 (0,1)

CP

225,5 (3,3)

48,2 (4,3)

178,0 (26,7)

61,9 (0,54)

61,9 (0,52)

Conclusions
DM (Dry Matter g Kg-1), CP ( Crude Protein g Kg-1 DM)

Table: Chemical composition of feed using on trials

M. Oleifera fed at 2-3 Kg DM day -1 improve DMI and Milk Yield in Cows. Pigs fed with M. Oleifera have less AWG and more Feed Conversion than fed with CC, but could be profitable. When fed P. maximun as basal diet M. Oleifera can increase DMI and AWG in sheep.