Effects of Dietary Supplementing Moringa oleifera Seeds, Seeds-Cake, and Leaf on The Ovarian Dynamics and Hemodynamics, Blood Biochemicals, and Antioxidant Status in Yearling Fat Tail Ewes

This study aimed to explore the effects of supplementing pubertal ewes with moringa seeds, seeds cake and leaves on the ovarian and uterine dynamics and hemodynamics, ovarian hormones, oxidants-antioxidants status, and blood biochemicals. Forty yearling fat-tail ewes were equally divided into four groups. In addition to the basal requirements (control), the moringa seeds cake (MSCG) was fed 7.0 g moringa seed cake, the moringa leaves (MLG) was fed 10.0 g moringa leaves, and the moringa seeds group (MSG) was supplemented 7.0 g moringa seeds. Blood samples and reproductive Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed weekly for six weeks. Results displayed increased ovulation rates (P<0.05), dominant and subordinate follicle diameters (P<0.001), and high estradiol (P<0.05) concentration in all moringa-supplemented ewes. MLG and MSG demonstrated lower corpus luteum (CL) diameter than the controls. CL of MSCG exhibited higher (P<0.001) color area/ pixel and color area % than controls, MLG, and MSG. MSCG obtained higher (P<0.001) ovarian area/pixel and progesterone concentration while MLG had higher ovarian color area /pixel (P<0.001) than controls. Ewes supplemented with MSCG presented the lowest (P<0.05) ovarian artery peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time average mean velocity (TAMV), mean velocity (Mean V), resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and blood flow volume (BFV) that associated lower (P<0.001) uterine artery PSV, EDV, TAMV, Mean V, and BFV. Total cholesterol, LDL, urea, and AST reached minimum (P<0.001) values whereas HDL, globulin, and creatinine reached the highest value (P<0.001) in ewes supplemented with MSG. All treated ewes displayed lower (P<0.001) MDA and higher NO and SOD levels than controls. Ewes of MSCG had the highest (P<0.001) catalase and GSH activities. In conclusion, Moringa oleifera can be supplemented to yearling ewes to improve their productive and reproductive performance.