Nutritional, Phytochemical and In-vitro Fermentation Evaluation of Pelleted Concentrate Feed Containing Moringa (Moringa oleifera) and Hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus) Leaves on Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Calves
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Authors
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Pallabi Das
Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
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Rajesh Kumar Dhuria
Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
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Rajesh Kumar Sawal
ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner
Abstract
This study investigated the potential of tree leaves as alternative feed resource by evaluating their nutritional composition, nitrogen fractions, phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity and in-vitro fermentation characteristics of pelleted concentrate feeds containing Moringa and Hedge lucerne leaves. Three iso-nitrogenous pelleted diets were formulated: a control diet based on conventional roughages (T1), diets containing 10% Moringa leaf incorporated pelleted meal (T2) and 10% Hedge lucerne leaf incorporated pelleted meal (T3). Samples were analyzed for proximate composition, fibre fractions, NDIN, ADIN, polyphenolic fractions, saponins, and antioxidant activity. In-vitro gas production, methane emission, ME, NE and short-chain fatty acid production were analyzed. Both Moringa and Hedge Lucerne leaf incorporated concentrated pelleted sources exhibited high crude protein content (25.06-26.30%) with favourable nitrogen fractions. Incorporation of tree leaves significantly enhanced total polyphenols, non-tannin polyphenols, flavonoids and saponins in pelleted feeds. The condensed tannins and other anti-nutritional factors were within safe limits. Moringa leaves showed higher total antioxidant capacity, hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging, and metal chelating activities, whereas hedge lucerne leaves exhibited slightly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity. In-vitro total gas production, methane emission, ME, NE and SCFA concentrations were non-significant in all the treatments, although improvements in energy values and reduced methane in T2 were observed. Overall, incorporation of Moringa and Hedge lucerne leaves at 10% in pelleted concentrate feeds improved protein quality, phyto-chemical enrichment and antioxidant potential which were sustainable and cost-effective alternative in livestock feeding.
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References
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