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Moringa oleifera, either fresh or ensiled, was compared with Elephant grass as a main feedstuff for dairy cows. To test the effects feed had on milk yield, milk composition, ration digestibility, and the organoleptic characteristics of milk, six lactating dairy cows were used in a Changeover 3 × 3 Latin Square experiment, replicated twice. With equal intake of metabolizable energy the intake of protein and fiber differed (p < 0.001) between all diets where fresh Moringa had the highest and the Elephant grass diet had the lowest intake. Compared with the control diet, ensiled Moringa had higher digestibility (P < 0.05) of both protein and fiber. With the exception of DM digestibility, no digestibility differences were found between fresh Moringa and Moringa silage treatments. Milk yield did not differ between any of the treatments and averaged 13.7 kg cow day(-1). Milk composition was similar among all treatments. Milk from the fresh Moringa treatment, however, had a grassy flavor and aroma, significantly different from the other two treatments, even though it was normal in color and appearance. No organoleptic differences were found between milk from the control treatment and the Moringa silage treatment. The conclusion is that Moringa silage can be fed to dairy cows in large quantities to produce the same quantity and quality of milk as traditional diets.

Fourteen different silages were prepared using mixtures of Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Taiwan) or sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). Molasses from sugar cane was used in the amounts of either 10 or 50 g kg )1 fresh matter (FM) in treatments without sugar cane. A completely randomized design with three replicates of each treatment was used. The silages were prepared in 1800 mL micro silos and opened after 120 d. The presence of Moringa and Elephant grass in the silage changed the pH by )0AE8 and +0AE7, respectively (P < 0AE001), indicating a favourable effect of Moringa on silage pH. Overall differences were found among treatments for dry matter content, crude protein and acetic acid concentrations, weight loss, CO 2 production and silage pH after spoilage (P < 0AE001). Weight loss was proportionately 0AE034 and 0AE014 in silages with and without sugar cane respectively (P < 0AE001). Overall, differences (P < 0AE05) were also found for neutral-detergent fibre and lactic acid concentrations, lactic acid bacteria counts, clostridial counts and time to spoilage of the silages. Treatments containing Moringa had higher lactic acid concentrations (+16 g kg )1 DM; P < 0AE01) compared to treatments without but the presence of Moringa decreased time to spoilage by 67 h (P < 0AE05). No differences were found in propionic acid concentration or fungal growth of the silages. It is concluded that Moringa can be used as a component of high quality silages which also contain high concentrations of crude protein.

RESUMENCon el objetivo de caracterizar el comportamiento inicial de Moringa oleifera y profundizar en las ventajas de esta especie, en comparación con otras forrajeras de rápido crecimiento (Leucaena leucocephala y Cajanus cajan); se realizó en el vivero de la Facultad de Recursos Naturales y del Ambiente, un ensayo en diseño completamente aleatorio con 20 repeticiones por especie. Se realizó un conteo diario de germinación por un periodo de tres semanas (21 días); mientras patrones de crecimiento fueron determinados a partir de evaluaciones semanales de diámetro basal y raíz, longitud de tallo y raíz, y número de raíces secundarias; así como producción de biomasa expresada en peso seco y peso fresco de la parte área y radicular, en muestra de ocho plantas destruidas semanalmente. La comparación en el desempeño de cada especie fue contrastada mediante el uso de índices de calidad de plantas. Los resultados muestran ventajas de la especie M. oleifera para la mayoría de variables; solo superado en el número de raíces secundarias por las dos especies en estudio. Los índices de calidad sugieren pocos problemas de establecimiento en campo para las especies M. oleifera y L. leucocephala como producto del rápido crecimiento, y aun con la desigual proporción en la relación tallo-raíz, y biomasa. Los valores de calidad registrados para cada especie pueden ser modificados a través de prácticas silviculturales en las plantas en el vivero. ABSTRACT With the objective to determinate the initial behavior of Moringa oleifera, and deep into advantage of this specie in comparison to others fodder with quick growth (Leucaena leucocephala and Cajanus cajan); was carried out an experiment with random complete design with, and 20 samples. By a period of three weeks (21 days) was monitored the germination; while patterns of growth were determined through evaluation for ten weeks of variables of diameter and root, long stem and root, and secondary root numbers, also biomass production showed as dry and fresh matter of root and, foliage and branches parts of eight plants were destroyed weekly. The quality of plants was compared using quality indexes based on morphological variables. The results suggest a best behavior of M. oleifera to almost all variables, having best performance C. cajan and L. leucocephala in secondary root numbers. The quality indexes suggest few problems of establishment on field to the species M. oleifera and L. leucocephala, this due to the quick growth even with unequal proportion on stem-root growth relation and biomass production. The quality index values obtained to each species could be modified through silvicultural management of the plant at the nursery. Calidad de plántulas de tres especies forrajeras (Moringa oleifera