Table 4.
Preweaning ewe and lamb performance traits in Pelibuey × Katahdin ewes supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf extracts.
| Variable | Daily Moringa oleifera Extract Supplementation (mL) | SE | p-Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 20 | 40 | 60 | |||
| Dry matter intake (kg/d) | 2.08 a,b | 1.98 a,b | 2.37 a | 1.89 b | 0.09 | 0.02 |
| Dry matter intake (g/kg 0.75/d) | 137 a,b | 125 b,c | 143 a | 121 c | 3.08 | <0.001 |
| Initial body weight (kg) | 34.6 | 37.3 | 38.1 | 36.4 | 2.20 | 0.72 |
| Final body weight (kg) | 40.7 | 42.3 | 46.9 | 42.2 | 2.41 | 0.38 |
| Body weight change (kg/d) | 0.137 | 0.111 | 0.195 | 0.129 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| Litter weaning weight (kg) | 14.2 | 13.7 | 15.1 | 13.7 | 0.57 | 0.38 |
| Ewe efficiency (%) | 35.2 | 32.7 | 32.2 | 33.1 | 1.64 | 0.63 |
| Birth weight (kg) | 3.66 | 3.52 | 3.82 | 3.30 | 0.25 | 0.55 |
| Average daily preweaning gain in lambs (kg/d) | 0.23 | 0.22 | 0.25 | 0.23 | 0.01 | 0.30 |
Body weight change: Change in ewe body weight per day during lactation calculated as (final body weight − initial body weight)/45 days. Ewe efficiency was calculated as (litter weaning weight/final body weight) × 100. Means in the same row with different superscripts (a, b, c) are different (p < 0.05). SE: Standard error.