Role of moringa oleifera leaves as feed for livestock

Pashu Sandesh, 28th January 2019

Mamata Joysowal, Anchal Keshri, Digvijay Singh,Zahid Bashir Khanday, Smriti Shukla and Anupama Tarun

Introduction

The world population is expected to be about seven billion in 2011 and India’s population about 1.2 billion, according to 2011 census. The growth rate of agriculture sector is 2.5-4%. The per capita availability of milk in India is 337 gram/day. whereas, world per capita availability of milk 229 gram/day. Hence, livestock products will play a pivotal role to mitigate the hunger of burgeoning human population of our country in the coming decades. In Indian condition there is a growing scarcity of animal feed resources, which is one of the major constraints to increase livestock production and the common crops available for agriculture has become limited due to the changing socio economic situation of our country and there has been a substantial shrinkage in the amount of crop available for feeding and feed ingredients for livestock particularly during the summer season. In most developing countries livestock sector plays a significant economic role and it is essential for the food security of the population. In India greater production is very necessary to fulfill the requirement, so problem of nutritional deficiency must be solved. Lately these factors have received wide attention towards the potential alternate major source of proteins. Plants leaf meal, forage trees, saltbush and shrubs are good and cheap sources of protein easy to grow and available to farmers. One of such tree is Moringa, Moringa tree is a multipurpose tree with numerous industrial and feeding uses.

Importance of Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera originated in the Indian subcontinent and later became naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. It is drought resistance and able to grow on poor soils. Moringa oleifera have capacity to produce high leaf mass within very limited and short period of time, it also perennial in nature, it can be harvested several times in the same growing season. Moringa oleifera leaves are rich in high crude protein content, adequate amino acid profile, high level of vitamins A, B, C and high amounts of polyphenols having capacity to elevate antioxidative action. Moreover, Moringa oleifera leaves can be fed fresh or dried and by drying we can be store it for long period without deterioration in nutritive value. Moringa oleifera tree commonly known as the‘drumstick’ or ‘horse radish tree. It is a rich source of phytochemicals, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and some other constituents having potential applications in medicines, functional food preparations, water purification, and biodiesel production. Moringa oleifera is a rapidly growing perennial tree, native to sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and widely distributed in the tropics throughout the Pacific region. M. oleifera is a storehouse of important nutrients and antinutrients. The leaves of M. oleifera are rich in minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper. Vitamins like beta-carotene of vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E also present in M. oleifera . It is a typical multipurpose tree have various economic importance because it has several industrial and medicinal applications like antiproliferation, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antiatherosclerotic, oxidative DNA damage protective, antiperoxidative and cardioprotective. Various products to be used as food and feed derived from the Moringa oleifera leaves and fruits. Moringa oleifera leaves and fruits are an important source of nutrients for rural populations in certain areas of India. Most important use of Moringa seeds in industrial is water purification. In India, the oil obtained from Moringa seeds is known as ben oil This oil is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols and sterols It can also withstand oxidative rancidity and it is used for cooking purpose. Moringa contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. The chemical composition (as % DMB) of Moringa olifera as reported by the various researchers there is so much variation observed. Various components of Moringa olifera are in the following ranges: 21.20-30.02, 6.75-10.3, 21.8-29.2, 5.0-6.9, 19.89-33.04 and 15.49-24.31 DM, TA, CP, EE, NDF and ADF respectively. Moringa feeding in lactating cows augment the milk production , improves the immune status by improving antioxidant status of animals , it also improve the CLA of milk which isantiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antiatherosclerotic in nature.

Conclusion

Moringa is a very nutritious tree having a large no of beneficial component. Moringa not only improves the health status of animals it also improve the health of humans by increase the CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) CLA burns fat and boost immune system.

Mamata Joysowal*¹, Anchal Keshri¹,  Digvijay Singh¹,Zahid Bashir Khanday², Smriti Shukla² and Anupama Tarun²

¹ Ph.D. Scholar, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana)-132001

² M.V.S_C Scholar, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana)-132001

Corresponding author*email; anchalkeshri05@gmail.com