Journal Article

Moringa leaf meal exerts growth benefits in small ruminants through modulating the gastrointestinal microbiome

Joshi, Chaitanya G., Kachhawaha, Subhash, Patil, Niteen V., Pandit, Ramesh, Shukla, Nitin, Patil, Sonal, Harshini, Vemula, Kumawat, Ram N., Patel, Ashutosh K., Chavda, Priyank, Nehra, Chitra, Savaliya, Kaksha, Shah, Tejas, Joshi, Madhvi

2024

Overview

This study investigated the impact of feeding 17% moringa leaf meal (MLM) on the ruminal and fecal microbial composition and body weight gain (BWG) performance of lambs ( Ovis aries ) and kids ( Capra hircus ). A total of n  = 28 lambs ( n  = 14, no-moringa, n  = 14, 17% moringa) and 24 kids ( n  = 12, no-moringa, n  = 12, 17% moringa) were involved in the experiment and body weight was recorded fortnightly. Metagenomic shotgun sequencing was performed on 28, 22, and 26 ruminal solid, liquid fraction, and fecal samples from lambs, and 23, 22, and 23 samples from kids. Moringa supplementation significantly increased BWG in lambs (21.09 ± 0.78 to 26.12 ± 0.81 kg) and kids (14.60 ± 1.29 to 18.28 ± 1.09 kg) ( p -value ≤ 0.01). Microbiome analysis revealed an elevated Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in the moringa diet group. Moringa-fed animals exhibited increased microbial genera associated with volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production ( Prevotella, Anaerovibrio, Lachnospiraceae, Butyrivibrio, Christensenella ) and starch and fiber digesters ( Proteobacteria, Ruminococcus ). The increase in the bacterial genus Sharpea suggested possible methane reduction and decreased proportion of pathogens, Aliarcobacter _ ID28198 , Campylobacter _ ID194 and Campylobacter _ ID1660076 suggest health benefits. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis demonstrated significant alterations in microbial gene pool and metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate, protein, lipid and energy metabolism, indicating potential improvements in animal health. Overall, moringa feeding showed higher energy recovery, improved growth, and potential benefits in methane reduction and reduced pathogenic bacteria. Key points • Study assessed the effects of Moringa olifera diet on lambs and kids. • Improved growth performance noted with moringa diet. • Moringa feed increased Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in rumen.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Anaerovibrio / Analysis / Animal Feed - analysis / Animal health / Animals / Applied Microbial and Cell Physiology / Bacteria / Bacteria - classification / Bacteria - genetics / Bacteria - isolation & purification / Bacteria - metabolism / Bacteroidetes / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biotechnology / Body weight / body weight changes / Body weight gain / Butyrivibrio / Campylobacter / Capra hircus / Carbohydrate metabolism / Carbohydrates / Diet / Diet - veterinary / Dietary Supplements / Energy metabolism / Energy recovery / Fatty Acids, Volatile - metabolism / Feces / Feces - microbiology / Feed additives / Firmicutes / Food and nutrition / Gastrointestinal Microbiome - drug effects / Gene pool / genome / genus / Goats / Growth / Gut microbiota / Health aspects / intestinal microorganisms / Lachnospiraceae / Lambs / Leaves / Life Sciences / Lipid metabolism / Lipids / liquids / Metabolic pathways / Metagenomics / Methane / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Microbiology / microbiome / Microbiomes / Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms) / Microorganisms / Moringa / Moringa - chemistry / Moringa oleifera / Ovis aries / Plant Leaves / Prevotella / Protein turnover / Proteobacteria / Rumen - microbiology / Ruminococcus / Sheep / starch / Volatile fatty acids / Weight Gain - drug effects