IMPACT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA DRIED LEAVES AND A PHYSICAL FORM OF A FORAGE SOURCE ON THE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND METHANE EMISSION OF DAIRY COWS - Muhammad Farhan Ayaz Chishti; Muhamamad Shahid Ibni Zamir; Muhammad Hasnain Shah; Wajid Ali; Muhammad Farooq Khalid; Muhammad Qamar Bilal; Muhammad Riaz; Umar Farooq; Riaz Mustafa; Waseem Abbas; Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2025)
The present study assessed the influence of Moringa oleifera (MO) dried leaves and a physical form of a forage source on the production performance and methane emission of dairy cows. Thirty Holstein-Friesian (10 primiparous and 20 multiparous) mid-lactating (DIM 181 ± 17, mean ± SD; 563 ± 25 kg of BW) cows were blocked (based on the parity) into groups of 6 and randomly assigned to each of five treatments; C= TMR (control diet), AP= TMR+4 Kg alfalfa pellets, AH= TMR+4 Kg alfalfa hay, M2=TMR+2 Kg MO-dry leaves, M4= TMR+4 Kg Moringa dry leaves. The results indicated a higher intake of Dry matter (DM) (22.2 Kg/d) and Crude protein (CP) (3.20 kg/d) in AP-supplemented cows. The results showed increased NDF (neutral detergent fiber) (11.24 Kg/d) and ADF (acid detergent fiber) (9.41 Kg/d) intakes in cows fed with the AH diet, and lower NDF (9.40 Kg/d) and ADF (7.35 Kg/d) intakes were observed in the control group cows. Moreover, the highest DM digestibility (68.4%) was observed in cows offered the M4 supplementation. Whereas, the digestibility of CP (65.9%) was greater in cows receiving AP-augmented diets. The results revealed enhanced NDF (57.2%) and ADF (52.8%) digestibilities in cows incorporated with AH in their diet. Our observations reflected higher milk production (27.22 Kg/d) in cows provided with the dietary addition of AH. While, increased milk production efficiency (MY/DMI) was found in cows fed with the dietary inclusion of M2 (1.36). Moreover, the higher 3.5% FCM (27.32 Kg/d) and milk efficiency (FCM/DMI) were noticed in M4-supplemented cows (1.35). Similarly, the milk composition % (protein, fat, TS, and SNF) was also improved in cows supplemented with M4 in their ration. Furthermore, a reduction in methane emission (CH4/kg DMI per day and CH4 g/kg 3.5% FCM) in M4 and M2 supplemented cows (CH4 g per day and CH4 g/ kg milk) was noticed. In conclusion, the dietary incorporation of MO-dried leaves in combination with a forage source improves milk production efficiency, milk composition, and decreases enteric methane emission in dairy cows.
Keywords: journal article; Tree leaves; Moringa oleifera; Forage; dairy cows; performance; methane