Abstract #W238

# W238
The effect of moringa oleifera leaf meal on follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone of wad goat bucks serum.
Abimbola O. Ladokun*1, Khadeejah Kareem-Ibrahim1, Bukola D. Adenaike1, Oladimeji M. Abioja1, John A. Abiona1, 1Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria.

Moringa as a plant has been attributed with possessing anti-oxidative properties and lowering of blood cholesterol. It has also been reported to be involved as an endocrine system blocker (ESB). This study investigated the effect of moringa leaf meal supplemented in the feed of West African dwarf (WAD) goat bucks on their serum FSH, LH and testosterone. Sixteen matured WAD bucks were used; they were assigned into 4 groups with 2 replicates and 2 bucks per replicate. They were semi-intensively managed, allowed to graze and their concentrate supplemented with blended moringa leaf at 0g/kg concentrate, 100, 200, and 300 g/kg respectively for 8 weeks. Blood was sampled 3 times (Start, 4th week and end of 8th week) and serum harvested for analyses using EIA for testosterone and ELISA kits and reader for FSH and LH. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA of SAS, and significant (P = 0.05) means were separated using the Duncan test in SAS. Concentrations of testosterone were similar across the groups (5.65–5.95ng/L). At the 4th and 8th week, the concentrations though greater than start, they were also similar across the groups indicating that moringa did not influence testosterone concentration in WAD bucks. Concentrations of FSH were also similar at the start (4.85–5.0), but there were decreases in concentrations at the 4th and 8th week as compared with start. It is noteworthy that for bucks supplemented with 200g/kg moringa, there was a significant (P = 0.05) decrease in concentration at 4th and 8th week (5.0–4.40–4.30ng/L). The average serum LH at start was similar among groups (3.75–4.10ng/L). At the 4th and 8th week, treatment did not affect concentrations of LH. Results indicate that moringa leaf at the level used in this study did not elicit any response indicative of disrupting the concentration of testosterone, FSH and LH in WAD bucks.

Key Words: moringa, goat buck, hormone