Influence of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf meal-based concentrates and stages of lactation on milk yield and udder parameters of Kalahari red does

Abstract

This study addressed the hypothesis that the influence of Moringa oleifera leaf meal-based concentrates and stages of lactation on milk yield and udder parameters of Kalahari Red does was null during twelve weeks of lactation. Twenty lactating Kalahari Red does were allotted to four Moringa oleifera leaf meal-based concentrates at 0, 5, 10 and 15 % in an on-farm experiment in a Complete Randomized

Design. The highest milk offtake, milk secretion rate, daily milk yield, udder circumference, udder length and udder volume were recorded in Kalahari Red does fed 10% MOLM. 614.90±33.44 cm³ of Udder Volume yielded 637.74±28.56 g per day during the early stage of lactation while the milk off take and milk secretion were 60.85±9.46 ml and 25.79±1.23 ml at mid and early lactations respectively. The interaction of inclusion levels of MOLM in the concentrates and stages of lactation significantly influenced all the parameters. It can be concluded that MOLM levels, stages of lactation and their interaction influenced udder parameters and milk yield of Kalahari Red does.

Keywords: Moringa, Milk yield , Udder parameters , Kalahari Red