EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF LIQUID MORINGA LEAF MEAL ON SERUM LIPID PROFILE AND LIVER FUNCTION ENZYMES OF GROWING YANKASA RAMS.

Abstract

Moringa leaf meal supplementation in livestock diets improves feed intake and weight gain but has paucity of information on serum lipid profile and liver function enzymes, especially in small ruminants. This study investigated the effects of different levels of supplementation of liquid moringa leaf meal (LMLM) on serum lipid

profile and liver function enzymes of growing Yankasa rams at 0, 4, 8, and 12 g kg-1 dry matter (DM) intake. Sixteen (16) growing Yankasa rams, eight to nine months old with average body weight of 16.59 kg were allotted into four dietary treatments in a Complete Randomised Design. The rams were fed a total mixed ration at 5%

live body weight. Fresh moringa leaves were shed dried, milled into powder and reconstituted into solution by dissolving 250 g of the moringa leaf powder in 1 L of water for oral administration. From the mixture of moringa powder, an equivalent amount (0, 4, 8, and 12 g) of moringa leaf meal was administered orally to the

rams. The results showed that dietary supplementation of growing Yankasa rams with LMLM at 4, 8, and 12 g per kg DM intake had no effect (P>0.05) on the serum lipid profile, liver function enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase compared to the rams on the control group. Although, there was an increase (P<0.05) in the level of lactate dehydrogenase in growing Yankasa rams supplemented with LMLM at 8 g kg-1 DM intake, the values are all within the acceptable reference range for healthy animals, signifying no adverse effect on the rams. Hence, this study concludes that dietary supplementation of LMLM up to 12 g kg-1 DM intake has no adverse effect on the serum lipid profile and liver function enzymes of growing Yankasa rams, despite its nutritional benefits on livestock species.