Consumption of Purple Neem Foliage Rich in Anthocyanins Improves Rumen Fermentation, Growth Performance and Plasma Antioxidant Activity in Growing Goats

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate how the consumption of purple neem foliage rich in anthocyanins improves rumen fermentation, growth performance and plasma antioxidant activity in growing goats. In total, 25 Anglo-Nubian Thai native male goats (about 20 ± 2 kg body weight; mean standard deviation (SD)) were assigned to 2 × 2 + 1 factorial in a completely randomized study design. There were five treatments: (1) control, (2) 3% normal neem foliage in concentrate, (3) 6% normal neem foliage in concentrate, (4) 3% purple neem foliage in concentrate and (5) 6% purple neem foliage in concentrate. The results show that the goats that were fed 6% purple neem foliage in concentrate had a higher (p 0.75, nutrient intake, nutrient digestion, final weight, weight change and ADG than did the goats that were fed 3% purple neem foliage in concentrate, 3% normal neem foliage in concentrate, 6% normal neem foliage in concentrate and control treatment. The feeding of 6% purple neem foliage in concentrate had higher (p p p p Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Streptococcus bovis at 2 and 4 h after feeding. The goats fed 6% purple neem foliage displayed higher (p p < 0.01) protozoa methanogen and malondialdehyde (MDA) at 2 and 4 h after feeding. In developing growing goats, the introduction of anthocyanin-rich purple neem foliage boosted plasma antioxidant capacity, improved rumen volatile fatty acids and caused a shift in the structure and relative abundance of the ruminal microbial community.

Keywords

• purple neem foliage
• normal neem foliage
• rumen fermentation
• microbial population
• growth performance
• antioxidant activity