Moringa: An Excellent Fodder for Ruminants

Moringa is an excellent & ideal green fodder for small livestock (ruminants), especially goats. Moringa has various synonyms like Drumstick, Sojne, Sahjan, Surjan, a, etc. This fast-growing plant is grown in traditional and scientific methods throughout the tropics due to its multipurpose uses. It is mainly used for our diet, animal feed, medicinal use, dye, and groundwater purification. Due to these characteristics, this is a very useful plant for all of us and one of the staple food plants of South Africa.

It is a hardy and drought-tolerant tree that can withstand diverse temperature ranges, grows in different types of soil, and has fast and vigorous vegetative growth. The leaves have high protein content with various essential amino acids and minerals. In addition to various essential minerals present in the tree, healing properties and health benefits are also associated with this tree. Due to all these qualities found in a single tree of Moringa, there is no exaggeration in calling it a “Miraculous Tree”. Apart from human consumption, the leaves of this tree are extensively used as animal feed.

Moringa offers a good alternative source of Protein with over 20% crude Protein in leaves to Ruminants wherever they thrive. There has been an increasing interest in the use of Moringa as a protein source for livestock. Laboratory analysis showed negligible amounts of tannins in all fractions of the Moringa oleifera pant and high levels of sulfur-containing amino acids. Macronutrients like P, K, Ca, and Mg play key roles in balancing the physiological, metabolic, and biochemical processes of livestock, they can be effectively used to fulfill the dietary and nutritional requirements of livestock animals by mixing Moringa leaves. Moringa leaves contain a good amount of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and iron.

About 92% of the Protein found in the Moringa is digestible. Moringa leaves contain more protein than traditional protein supplements such as Coconut, Cotton seed Cake, Peanut Cake, Sesame Cake, Sunflower Cake, etc. Moringa leaves also contain 8 to 9% Lipids which are rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. In addition to these, Moringa leaves contain several fungal species such as E. coil, S. arouse, P. aeruginosa and B. cereus, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties are present.

Source: vikaspedia.in