Effect of Moringa oleifera and Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)-Based Pellets on the Reproductive Performance of Barbari Goats

Abstract

This study evaluated whether replacing 8% of the concentrate portion of an isonitrogenous total mixed ration with Moringa-based, Chaya-based, or combined Moringa–Chaya pellets influenced the reproductive performance of pregnant Barbari does. Twenty-four does in early gestation were blocked according to dry matter intake, body weight, and parity and randomly allocated to four groups of six: a control group, a Moringa-pellet group, a Chaya-pellet group, and a combined-pellet group. The diets contained 60% roughage and 40% concentrate, and the experimental pellets replaced 8% of the concentrate fraction. Litter size at birth, twin birth rate, triplet birth rate, multiple birth rate, and kid survival to weaning were recorded. Treatment comparisons were performed using chi-square and Fisher–Freeman–Halton exact tests, with statistical significance defined at P < 0.05. Relative to the control, the supplemented groups showed numerically higher litter size, multiple birth rate, and kid survival. The Moringa and combined groups generally showed the highest numerical values, whereas the Chaya group displayed intermediate responses. However, none of the differences among treatments reached statistical significance. These findings indicate that the tested pellets did not produce a statistically demonstrable improvement in reproductive performance under the conditions of this small trial. The numerical patterns may justify further evaluation, but they should not be interpreted as evidence of efficacy. Larger studies with complete diet composition, individual nutrient intake, animal-level reproductive records, and prospective power calculations are required before practical recommendations can be made.