The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs
Plant secondary compounds are potential rumen modifiers that can improve nutrient utilization in ruminant animals. This study evaluated the effect of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>) and Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) leaf extracts on nutrient digestibility, growth perform...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3514 |
| _version_ | 1797460497125081088 |
|---|---|
| author | Danah A. Du Preez Abiodun Mayowa Akanmu Festus Adeyemi Adejoro Abubeker Hassen |
| author_facet | Danah A. Du Preez Abiodun Mayowa Akanmu Festus Adeyemi Adejoro Abubeker Hassen |
| author_sort | Danah A. Du Preez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plant secondary compounds are potential rumen modifiers that can improve nutrient utilization in ruminant animals. This study evaluated the effect of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>) and Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) leaf extracts on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and enteric methane production in South African Mutton Merino lambs. Forty 4-month-old ram lambs with a mean body weight of 35 ± 2.2 kg were blocked by weight and from each block, lambs were randomly allocated into one of the following treatments: (i) diet only (fed a total mixed ration TMR-negative control), (ii) Monensin (fed TMR containing Monensin sodium, 15 mg/kg DM), (iii) Moringa (fed TMR, drenched with Moringa extract 50 mg/kg feed DM intake), and (iv) Neem (fed TMR, drenched with Neem extract 50 mg/kg DM intake). Extracts were administered via oral drenching at a concentration determined based on the previous week’s feed intake. There were no differences in dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility, and nitrogen retention across the treatments. However, the extracts tended to reduce methane emitted both in g/head/day (<i>p</i> < 0.08) and g/ kg dry matter intake (<i>p</i> < 0.07). Extracts did not influence any of the blood metabolites in the ram lambs. Although the benefits of utilizing these medicinal plants as rumen modifiers under prolonged feeding conditions is justified, further evaluation is recommended to test Moringa and Neem leaf extracts at higher inclusion levels. Our research group is currently exploring a variety of phytogenic tools for the identification and standardization of key bioactive compounds linked to methane inhibition, in these leaf extracts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:05:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db6ce7996dc142458dcd6d735a3c6fa6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:05:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-db6ce7996dc142458dcd6d735a3c6fa62023-11-24T14:24:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011322351410.3390/ani13223514The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino LambsDanah A. Du Preez0Abiodun Mayowa Akanmu1Festus Adeyemi Adejoro2Abubeker Hassen3Department of Animal Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaDepartment of Animal Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaPlant secondary compounds are potential rumen modifiers that can improve nutrient utilization in ruminant animals. This study evaluated the effect of Moringa (<i>Moringa oleifera</i>) and Neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i>) leaf extracts on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and enteric methane production in South African Mutton Merino lambs. Forty 4-month-old ram lambs with a mean body weight of 35 ± 2.2 kg were blocked by weight and from each block, lambs were randomly allocated into one of the following treatments: (i) diet only (fed a total mixed ration TMR-negative control), (ii) Monensin (fed TMR containing Monensin sodium, 15 mg/kg DM), (iii) Moringa (fed TMR, drenched with Moringa extract 50 mg/kg feed DM intake), and (iv) Neem (fed TMR, drenched with Neem extract 50 mg/kg DM intake). Extracts were administered via oral drenching at a concentration determined based on the previous week’s feed intake. There were no differences in dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility, and nitrogen retention across the treatments. However, the extracts tended to reduce methane emitted both in g/head/day (<i>p</i> < 0.08) and g/ kg dry matter intake (<i>p</i> < 0.07). Extracts did not influence any of the blood metabolites in the ram lambs. Although the benefits of utilizing these medicinal plants as rumen modifiers under prolonged feeding conditions is justified, further evaluation is recommended to test Moringa and Neem leaf extracts at higher inclusion levels. Our research group is currently exploring a variety of phytogenic tools for the identification and standardization of key bioactive compounds linked to methane inhibition, in these leaf extracts.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3514feed additivesplant secondary metabolitesrumen fermentationtoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Danah A. Du Preez Abiodun Mayowa Akanmu Festus Adeyemi Adejoro Abubeker Hassen The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs Animals feed additives plant secondary metabolites rumen fermentation toxicity |
| title | The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs |
| title_full | The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs |
| title_short | The Effect of Monensin vs. Neem, and Moringa Extracts on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth Performance, Methane, and Blood Profile of Merino Lambs |
| title_sort | effect of monensin vs neem and moringa extracts on nutrient digestibility growth performance methane and blood profile of merino lambs |
| topic | feed additives plant secondary metabolites rumen fermentation toxicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/22/3514 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danahadupreez theeffectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT abiodunmayowaakanmu theeffectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT festusadeyemiadejoro theeffectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT abubekerhassen theeffectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT danahadupreez effectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT abiodunmayowaakanmu effectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT festusadeyemiadejoro effectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs AT abubekerhassen effectofmonensinvsneemandmoringaextractsonnutrientdigestibilitygrowthperformancemethaneandbloodprofileofmerinolambs |