Dietary Moringa oleifera improves goat milk quality: Benefits for human nutrition and the dairy industry

This study evaluated the effects of Moringa oleifera silage on milk quality in lactating goats, aiming to produce a nutritionally enriched product with health-promoting compounds. In line with this goal, milk from Moringa-fed goats exhibited higher fat, protein, and lactose contents, along with a significant reduction in somatic cell count, compared to those fed clover hay. Enhanced antioxidant status was indicated by increased alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.05) and lower malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05). Additionally, Moringa-fed goats showed a substantial increase in both the yield (P < 0.01) and concentration (P < 0.001) of phospholipids, along with significant changes in their composition. This was accompanied by higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio in their milk (P < 0.01). The study highlights the beneficial potential of dietary supplementation of Moringa silage in enriching the nutritional value of goat milk by inducing the accumulation of nutraceutical attributes.