Evaluation of the moringa oleifera leaf meal effects on milk yield, milk quality and the helminthic load of saanen dairy goats in rangeland conditions at Neudamm farm
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Date
2024
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Capra aegarus hircus (Goats) are popular small ruminants kept mainly for meat and
milk. Over time, goat milk became popular and a substitute for cow milk. Researchers
have focused their studies on alternative and cheaper methods of increasing milk yield,
milk quality and improved animal health. This study aimed to assess the effects of
Moringa oleifera inclusion in the diet of Saanen dairy goats on their milk yield and
quality as well as the reduction of gastrointestinal parasite egg load. The study used a
3x3 Crossover Latin square Design to determine the effects of 0g, 10g and 30g/day
Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the milk yield and quality whilst a completely
randomised design was used to determine the effects on the parasite egg load. The
evaluation of milk yield was done by hand milking the goats daily, whereas milk
quality was conducted using a Lactoscan SP. The parasite egg load was assessed using
the quantitative faecal flotation method complemented by the McMaster Egg Counting
Technique. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS®) version 27 (IBM,
2020) software was used for data analysis. Milk yield and quality data were analysed
using the General linear model and the parasitic egg counts were analysed using the
generalised linear model (Poisson regression model). The comparison of means was
done using Duncan’s new multiple range test at P<0.05 significance. The goat milk
yields significantly differed at P<0.05 in the first period at 3.178 kg/day (30 days) and
the yield reduced in the second at 2.848kg/day and 2.831kg/day for the third period
(30 to 90 days of the trial). The moringa supplement had no significant effect on the
goat milk yield. The treatment did not affect the milk fat, non-fat solids, density,
protein, lactose, added water, temperature, freezing point, salts, total solids or pH of
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the goat milk. The gastrointestinal parasite egg load assessment found the presence of
three genera; Strongyloides, Moniezia and Coccidia. The study treatment levels of 10g
and 30g of moringa leaf meal/day were effective in the reduction of the egg loads. In
conclusion, the study findings showed no positive response in the milk yield and milk
quality for the treatment levels of 10g and 30g/day, however, a positive response of
parasites to moringa leaf meal was observed due to the reduction of parasitic egg load
with 10g and 30g/day treatments. The results from this study show that moringa leaf
meal could be used in Saanen dairy goats in the reduction of gastrointestinal helminths.
This study would recommend the use of 10g/day moringa leaf meal supplementation
for dairy goats for ecological management of gastrointestinal tract parasites
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science in agriculture
Keywords
Moringa oleifera, Saanen goats, Milk yield, Milk quality, Parasite egg load