Potential of Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina whole plants as sustainable forage alternatives in lamb (Ovis aries) nutrition

potential-of-moringa-oleifera-and-moringa-peregrina-whole-plants-as-sustainable-forage-alternatives-in-lamb-(ovis-aries)-nutrition
Potential of Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina whole plants as sustainable forage alternatives in lamb (Ovis aries) nutrition

Data availability

The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

References

  1. Palada, M. C. & Chang, L. C. Suggested Cultural Practices for Moringa (International Cooperators’ Guide, AVRDC, Shanhua, 2003).

  2. Olson, M. E. & Fahey, J. W. Moringa oleifera: Un árbol multiusos Para Las Zonas tropicales Secas. Revista Mexicana De Biodiversidad. 82, 1071–1082. https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2011.3.745 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abdoun, K. et al. Cultivation and uses of Moringa oleifera as non-conventional feed stuff in livestock production: a review. Life 13, 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010063 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mendieta-Araica, B., Sporndly, E., Reyes-Sanchez, N., Salmeron-Miranda, F. & Halling, M. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal as a source of protein in locally produced concentrates for dairy cows. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 43, 1035–1040. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9795-6 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Babiker, Z. I. E., Elmansoury, Y. H. A., El-Zubeir, I. E. M. & Fadel Elseed, A. M. A. Milk production and composition in Sudanese desert Ewes fed Moringa Oleifera leaves. J. Anim. Feed Sci. 25, 293–300. https://doi.org/10.22358/jafs/67435/2016 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ben Salem, H. & Makkar, H. P. S. Defatted Moringa oleifera seed meal as a feed additive for lambs. Small Ruminant Res. 85, 23–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2009.06.003 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Soliva, C. R. et al. Feeding value of whole and extracted Moringa oleifera leaves for ruminants and their effects on methane emissions. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 118, 47–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2004.10.005 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Sanchez, N. R., Sporndly, E. & Ledin, I. Effect of feeding different levels of foliage of Moringa oleifera to Creole dairy cows on intake, digestibility, milk production and composition. Livest. Sci. 101, 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.09.010 (2006).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Sarwat, A., Al-Saiady, M. Y., Al-Shaikh, M. A. & Mogawer, H. H. Utilization of Moringa oleifera forage in dairy cow ration. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 7, 315–317. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2004.315.317 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sayed-Ahmed, S. Z. & Shaarawy, S. M. Productive performance of goat kids fed Moringa oleifera leaves. Egypt. J. Nutr. Feeds 22, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnf.2019.672523 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wankhede, S. M. et al. Growth performance and nutrient digestibility in goats fed Moringa oleifera leaves. Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 39, 186–192. https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-6744.2022.00027.7 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  12. El-Badawi, A. Y. et al. Effect of feeding Moringa oleifera leaves to growing lambs on performance, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites. Small Ruminant Res. 210, 106640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106640 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bhokre, C. D. et al. Performance of growing lambs fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal as protein source. Indian J. Small Ruminants 29, 149–153. https://doi.org/10.5958/0973-9718.2023.00022.8 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Alhidary, I. A., Abdelrahman, M. M., Alyemni, A. H., Al-Mufarrej, S. I. & Al-Haidary, A. A. Histopathological changes in rumen wall of Najdi sheep fed pelleted total mixed rations. Pak. Vet. J. 36, 322–326 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jensen, R., Deane, H. M., Cooper, L. J. & Miller, R. F. Observations on rumen mucosa pigmentation. Am. J. Vet. Res. 19, 869–872 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nockels, C. F., Deane, H. M. & Jensen, R. Pigmentation changes in the rumen mucosa of cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 25, 614–617. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1966.253614x (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Woods, W., Boyd, L. J. & Pfander, W. H. Iron-containing pigments in the rumen epithelium. Nature 197, 83–84. https://doi.org/10.1038/197083a0 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Su, B. & Chen, X. Current status and potential of Moringa oleifera leaf as an alternative protein source for animal feeds. Front. Veterinary Sci. 7, 53. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00053 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Makkar, H. P. S. & Becker, K. Nutrients and antiquality factors in different morphological parts of the Moringa oleifera tree. J. Agric. Sci. 128, 311–322. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859697004292 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Anwar, F., Latif, S., Ashraf, M. & Gilani, A. H. Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple medicinal uses. Phytother. Res. 21, 17–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2023 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Allam, S. M., Aboul-Fotouh, G. E., El-Garhy, G. M. & Gamal, O. Use of Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) in fattening lambs rations. Egypt. J. Nutr. Feeds. 18, 11–17. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnf.2015.104349 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Leitanthem, V. K., Chaudhary, P., Bhakat, M., Mohini, M. & Mondal, G. Impact of Moringa oleifera on rumen fermentation and methane emission under in vitro condition. AMB Express 12, 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-022-01480-0 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lourenc, M., Ramos-Morales, E. & Wallace, R. J. The role of microbes in rumen lipolysis and biohydrogenation and their manipulation. Animal 4, 1008–1023. https://doi.org/10.1017/S175173111000042X (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Russell, J. B. & Rychlik, J. L. Factors that alter rumen microbial ecology. Science 292, 1119–1122. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1058830 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Patra, A. K. & Saxena, J. A new perspective on the use of plant secondary metabolites to inhibit methanogenesis in the rumen. Phytochemistry 71, 1198–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2010.05.010 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mitchell, K. E. et al. Supplementing branched-chain volatile fatty acids in dual-flow cultures varying in dietary forage and corn oil concentrations. I: Digestibility, microbial protein, and prokaryotic community structure. J. Dairy Sci. 106, 7530–7547. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-23165 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Dhanasekaran, D. K. et al. Plants extract and bioactive compounds on rumen methanogenesis. Agroforest Syst. 94, 1541–1553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00411-6 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sreelatha, S. & Padma, P. R. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of Moringa oleifera leaves in two stages of maturity. Plant Foods Hum. Nutr. 64, 303–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-009-0141-0 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hungate, R. E. The Rumen and its Microbes (Academic, 2013).

  30. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants: Sheep, Goats, Cervids, and New World Camelids (National Academies, 2007). https://doi.org/10.17226/11654

  31. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis 21st Edn (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2005).

  32. Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International 20th edn (AOAC International, 2016).

  33. Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B. & Lewis, B. A. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides inrelation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 74, 3583–3597 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Erwin, E. S., Marco, G. J. & Emery, E. M. Volatile fatty acids analyses of blood and rumen fluid by gas chromatography. J. Dairy Sci. 44, 1768–1771 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE). Official Recommendations on Uniform Color Spaces. Publication CIE No. 15 (E-1.3.1) (Bureau Central de la CIE, 1976).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Ongoing Research Funding Program, (ROF-2025-1096), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This research was funded by the Ongoing Research Funding Program, (ROF-2025-569), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Khalid A. Abdoun and Mohammed A. Al-Badwi.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid A. Abdoun, Mohammed A. Al-Badwi, Faisal A. Alshamiry, Mohammed Y. Alsaiady, Emad M. Samara & Ahmed A. Al-Haidary

  2. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), 12354, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed A. Alsagan

Authors

  1. Khalid A. Abdoun
  2. Mohammed A. Al-Badwi
  3. Faisal A. Alshamiry
  4. Ahmed A. Alsagan
  5. Mohammed Y. Alsaiady
  6. Emad M. Samara
  7. Ahmed A. Al-Haidary

Contributions

Conceptualization: Khalid Abdoun, Ahmed Al-Haidary, and Mohammed Al-Badw; Methodology, Khalid Abdoun, Mohammed Al-Badw and Faisal Alshamiry; Software, Faisal Alshamiry, and Emad Samara; Validation, Khalid Abdoun, Mohammed Al-Badw, Ahmed Al-Haidary and Emad Samara; Formal Analysis, Mohammed Al-Badw, Emad Samara and Faisal Alshamiry; Investigation, Khalid Abdoun, and Mohammed Al-Badw; Resources, Khalid Abdoun, Ahmed Alsagan, Mohammed Alsaiady, and Ahmed Al-Haidary.; Data Curation, Mohammed Al-Badw, Emad Samara, and Faisal Alshamiry; Writing—Original Draft Preparation, Khalid Abdoun, and Mohammed Al-Badw; Writing—Review and Editing, Khalid Abdoun, and Mohammed Al-Badw; Visualization, Khalid Abdoun, Ahmed Alsagan, and Ahmed Al-Haidary; Supervision, Khalid Abdoun and Ahmed Al-Haidary.; Project Administration, Khalid Abdoun, Ahmed Alsagan, and Mohammed Alsaiady; Funding Acquisition, Khalid Abdoun, Ahmed Alsagan, Mohammed Alsaiady, and Ahmed Al-Haidary. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed A. Al-Badwi.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Institutional review board statement

The study followed animal research guidelines and received approval from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of King Saud University, under approval number KSU-SE-21-19.

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had absolutely no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analyses, or data interpretation; in the manuscript creation, or in the final decision to publish the results.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdoun, K.A., Al-Badwi, M.A., Alshamiry, F.A. et al. Potential of Moringa oleifera and Moringa peregrina whole plants as sustainable forage alternatives in lamb (Ovis aries) nutrition. Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31655-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31655-1

Keywords