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South African Journal of Animal Science

On-line version ISSN 2221-4062
Print version ISSN 0375-1589

S. Afr. j. anim. sci. vol.49 n.4 Pretoria  2019

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v49i4.12 

ARTICLES

 

Lactation performance and blood metabolites in lactating dairy cows micro-supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal

 

 

T.W. KekanaI, II, #; U. MarumeII; C.M. MuyaIII; F.V. Nherera-ChokudaIV

IWestern Cape Department of Agriculture-SAET, P.O. Box 313, Oudtshoorn, 6625, South Africa
IIDepartment of Animal Science, North-West University, P/Bag X2046 Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa
IIIAgriculture Research Council-Animal Production, P/Bag X 02, Irene, 0062, South Africa
IVNERPO, 160 Garsfontein Road, Ashlea Gardens, Pretoria 0081, South Africa

 

 


ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of micro-supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on lactation performance and blood metabolites of lactating dairy cows. Thirty Jersey cows (± 40 days in milk (DIM)) were supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (M) at 0 (M0), 30 (M30) and 60 g/cow/day. The experiment lasted until 90 DIM with 14 days adaptation. Milk yield was recorded daily and samples were collected once weekly to determine milk composition and total antioxidant capacity (MTAC). Blood samples were collected on days 54, 68 and 90 in milk to determine serum total protein (TSP), albumin (Alb), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and serum total antioxidant capacity (STAC). Body weight (BW) and milk yield were not affected (P >0.05) by Moringa supplementation. Moringa supplementation at M60 increased (P <0.05) milk fat and MTAC with a significant reduction in somatic cell count (SCC). Increased (P <0.05) total serum protein (TSP) and IgG with reduced (P <0.05) non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels were observed in M60. Increased (P <0.05) STAC levels were noted in all groups supplemented with Moringa. Micro-supplementation with Moringa oleifera at 60 g/cow/day markedly reduced oxidative stress, which resulted in improved milk quality and immunity in lactating Jersey cows.

Keywords: antioxidant herbs, antioxidative status, immunity, Jersey cows, milk yield


 

 

Introduction

Dairy farmers are faced with challenges in maintaining production, good health, optimum growth and reproduction, which determine dairy economic feasibility (Barkema et al., 2015). Dairy cattle in subtropical areas suffer heat stress, which affects the immune system and ultimately results in mortalities (Kekana et al., 2018). Synergistic stress from high temperatures and post-calving negative energy balance (NEB) increase the levels of NEFA (Yatoo et al., 2015). High levels of NEFA enhance the oxidation of fatty acids, triggering overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Sordillo & Raphael, 2013). The circulation of high and unregulated ROS levels causes oxidative stress, which increases the incidences of inflammatory diseases such as mastitis (Sordillo & Raphael, 2013).

Vitamins, mostly A, C and E, and minerals, such as selenium, copper and zinc, have been used to mitigate oxidative stress (Politis et al., 2012). However, in confined systems, the risk of over- or undersupplying micro elements is high (Bouwstra et al., 2010), hence the overproduction of pro-oxides is common (Rizzo et al., 2013). Additionally, in semi-intensive feeding systems, trace elements, particularly antioxidant supplementation, are limited owing to restricted or lack of supplementation (De et al., 2014). With increasing global food insecurity and malnutrition, especially in developing countries, research focus has shifted to exploration of the potential of natural antioxidants in improving animal production and health to support human nutrition and health.

Moringa oleifera is a natural herbal plant that is recognized for high leaf crude protein (Babiker et al., 2017; Babiker, et al., 2016) and is utilized in the diets of ruminants and fish. Moringa oleifera is native to North India. It is also a rich source of natural antioxidants such as vitamin A (ß-carotene), vitamin B (folic acid), pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamins C, D, and E (Mbikay, 2012). In addition, M. oleifera leaf meal contains phenolic and flavonoids at 31.9 g/100g and 40.8 g/100g, respectively (Pakade et al., 2013). These compounds have antioxidative and immunomodulatory properties (Moyo, 2011) that are more effective than synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene, rutin, and ascorbic acid as noted by Falowo et al., (2016). Because early lactating dairy cows are prone to oxidative stress, M. oleifera may serve as a natural and cheaper antioxidant source in resource limited-areas. This study therefore evaluated the effects of micro-supplementing Moringa oleifera leaf meal on selected blood metabolites and the lactation performance of dairy cows raised in semi-arid conditions.

 

Materials and methods

The experiment was conducted in Sekhukhune district, Limpopo, South Africa (24.8335 ° S, 29.9741° E). The annual rainfall averages 350 mm with mean maximum temperature of 30 °C and minimum 14 °C.

Thirty second-lactation Jersey cows, weighing 345 ± 40 kg, which were kept under a zero-grazing system, were used in a complete randomized design experiment. At 40 DIM, cows were assigned to one of ten blocks of three cows based on previous lactation performance, Body weight and body condition score. The three treatments consisted of increasing levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0, 30 and 60 g/cow/day, namely M0, M30 and M60. Moringa supplementation was top-dressed on the dairy concentrate during morning milking. The animals were fed individually on lucerne hay and Eragrostis curvula hay with the commercial lactating concentrate and clean water was supplied ad libitum (Table 1). The concentrate was offered at two equal parts of 3 kg/cow per milking session (9h00 AM and 16h00 PM). The study conformed to the regulations of Agricultural Research Council Ethic Committee (APIEC 14/17) and lasted for 50 days (from 40 to 90 DIM) comprised of 14 days for adaptation and 36 days for sampling.

Moringa leaf meal was purchased from Winterveldt Moringa Farmers' Co-operative in Pretoria, South Africa, and was analysed for phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. The preparation of the plant extract and measurement of total phenolic compounds with Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent were conducted using the methods described by Bamdad et al. (2006).

To determine the bodyweight change (BWC), the animals were weighed on days 54, 68 and 90 DIM. Daily feed intake was determined as the difference between the amount of feed offered and refusals. Feed samples were composited weekly and ground to pass through a Wiley mill (Arthur H. Thomas, Philadelphia, PA) to analyse dry matter (DM) (AOAC, 2002), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (Van Soest et al., 1991), crude protein(CP) (Kjeltec 2200, Seattle, WA), ether extracts and minerals (AOAC, 2002).

Cows were hand milked in the morning and afternoon at (09h00 and 16h00). Calves suckled during the day and were separated from their dams overnight. Composite milk samples were collected from morning milking sessions and analysed for fat, protein, lactose, total solids (TS), solids non-fat (SNF), milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and somatic cell count (SCC) using a MilkoScan analyser (Foss Electric A/S, Hiller0d, Denmark). Total antioxidant capacity (MTAC) in milk samples was measured with a modified Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method of Van Berg et al. (1999).

Blood was collected into the anti-coagulant free vacutainer tubes on 54, 68, and 90 DIM, and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1000*g. The separated serum was stored in propylene tubes at -20°C pending analysis for total proteins (Ule, 2015), albumin and creatinine (Cr) (Tietz, 1995). Globulin concentrations were calculated as the difference between TP and Alb. Enzymatic methods were used for blood urea determination (BUN) (Tietz, 1995). Immunoglobulins G (IgG) were analysed using the Chemwell auto-analyser and reported as g/L. Analysis of NEFA was done according to Johnson & Peters, (1993) and glucose according to the manufacturer' guide (Glucose HK Gen.3 kit, Lancet Laboratories, Midrand, South Africa). Cholesterol was determined according to Daecon & Dawson (1979). Serum total antioxidant capacity (STAC) was assayed using the method described by Koracevic et al. (2001).

Data were analysed using PROC GLM of Statistical Analysis System version 9.0 (SAS, 2009). The three sampling periodic data were regarded as repeated measures with the interaction of treatment and time, as illustrated in the following model:

Where: Ycgd = an observation value for parameters measured from cow c from group g at day of sampling day d

Ycgt = observed variables

μ= overall mean

ag = effect of group g where g = M0 or M30 or M60

ßt = effect of sampling day d

(aß)gt = fixed interaction of effect of group g and sampling day d

ecgt = error associated with the measurement will be taken from cow c, group g at sampling day d

Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) method was used to separate means, difference was declared at P <0.05 and tendency at P <0.1.

 

Results

Total phenolic content (TS) and the 1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl free radical scavenging assay (DPPH-RSA) of Moringa oleifera leaf meal were 315.8 mg of TAE/g of DM and 79.5%. Feed intake BW and milk yield were not affected by micro-supplementation (Table 2). This was also observed when evaluated throughout the trial period (Figure 1). Micro-supplementation had no effect on milk quality: milk protein and milk lactose. Milk fat, TS, and non-solid fat were higher (P <0.05) in M60 than in M0 (Table 2). The M60 treatment group had lower SCC than control (2208.7 x 100/ml vs. 2358.5 x 100/m) with no differences (P >0.05) between M30 and M0, and M30 and M60 (Table 3). Increased (P <0.05) MTAC was noted in both M30 and M60 groups, compared with the control. From day 54 of DIM, M60 had higher (P <0.05) MTAC than the rest of the treatments (Figure 2).

Serum proteins, energy metabolites and antioxidant capacity are shown in Table 3 and Figure 2. Cows in M60 had higher TSP, Alb, IgG (Figure 3), and Cre levels than M30 and M0, although differences between M30 and M60 were not significant (Table 3). There were no differences across treatments in total globulin. Cows in the control group had the least blood glucose concentration. Moringa supplementation reduced blood cholesterol levels and increased (P <0.05) STAC (Figure 2) throughout the trial. For the whole study period, non-esterified fatty acids was reduced (P <0.05) in cows supplemented with MOLM (Figure 3).

 

Discussion

Moringa leaf powder contains high levels of flavonoids, vitamin E, A and selenium, which could have contributed to the observed high antioxidant activity in the current study synergistically, as reported elsewhere (Falowo et aí., 2016). Babiker et al. (2017) and Gopalakrishnam et al. (2016) reported that positive Moringa effects on milk yield were associated with a higher intake of the plant. Supplementation with phytobiotic-rich plants can stimulate the secretion of digestive fluids, which cause a shift in rumen fermentation, promoting the circulation of blood cholesterol and glucose, which reduce lipid mobilization (Kumar at al., 2017).

Likewise, in the current study, Moringa oleifera increased milk fat, TS and non-solid fat (Kholif et al., 2015). The observed high fat content in milk could be attributed to increased fermentation efficiency, enhanced by phytochemical-rich Moringa in conjunction with amino acids and P, Ca, and Mg in M. oleifera leaves, which are essential for high milk synthesis, as observed with other plants (Hashemzadeh-Cigari et al., 2014; Gopalakrishnan et al., 2016).

Milk yield and quality are critical determinants of a cow's dairy value (Politis, 2012). In the current study, the absorption of by-products of phenolic digestion could have reduced inflammation caused by stress. Low SCC is a benchmark in the milk value chain. The inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis suppresses cellular factor MB activation in immune cells (Zhan et al., 2016). Milk that is higher in antioxidants has a higher likelihood of reduced spoilage, therefore a longer shelf life (Aguiar et al., 2014). Antioxidants also stimulate lactoferrin activity in milk, which binds iron and inhibits iron-induced lipid peroxidation and hydrolysates (Gutterdge et al., 1981). This reaction prevents lipid peroxidation, hence promote better milk quality. High energy levels from elevated blood glucose level could have contributed to the lower non-esterified fatty acids levels observed in the current study.

Normal cell metabolism, lactation and thermal stress produce free radicals (ROS), which cause oxidative stress if there is no mitigation strategy (Sejian et al., 2013). The observed increased STAC with Moringa supplementation indicates suppressed oxidative stress. Catalase activities and glutathione peroxidase and reduced Malondialdehyde (MDA) (Zhan et al., 2017) were the result of high phenolic activity. The reduced plasma creatinine concentration observed in cows supplemented with M. oleifera suggests an elevated mobilization of skeletal muscle protein (Bruckmaier et al., 1998). Creatinine levels often rise during negative energy balance, as more creatinine is burned to produce energy. The same trend was observed in MUN, which is positively correlated with creatinine, as noted by Nozad et al. (2012).

The unaffected globulins across the treatments could be explained by the increased albumin concentration that is stimulated by flavonoids such as quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol (Papadopoulou et al., 2005) found in M. oleifera leaves (Pakade et al., 2013). Nfambi at al. (2015) also reported positive immunomodulatory effects owing to increased white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils levels. Moringa supplementation had minimal effects on blood urea levels, which indicates improved utilization of dietary nitrogen (Kumar at al., 2017; Nousiainen et al., 2004).

 

Conclusion

Supplementing Moringa oleifera leaf meal to lactating Jersey cows stimulated blood energy-related metabolites and serum antioxidant capacity, consequently improving milk quality with an associated reduction in oxidative stress.

 

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the Professional Development Programme (PDP) at the ARC-Irene for financial support, The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform and Mabodibeng Dairy Farm of Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, South Africa, for their willing participation in the study.

Authors' contributions

TWK conceptualised the idea and participated in the study design, data collection, laboratory and statistics analyses, and manuscript writing. UM was involved in constructive revision of manuscript. MCM participated in statistics analysis. FVN-C was involved in interpretation of the data and constructive revision of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest declaration

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

 

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Received 14 March 2018
Accepted 05 March 2019
First published online 07 August 2019

 

 

# Corresponding author: ThapeloK@elsenburg.com

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