Effects of Leptadenia reticulata and Moringa oleifera feeding on hematological profile of lactating Sahiwal cattle under farm conditions

Abstract

The present trial was conducted for 120 days on 28 lactating Sahiwal cattle (1st-4th parity) at the Instructional Dairy Farm, Nagla, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. Animals were randomly divided into four groups: T₀ (control), T₁ (Leptadenia reticulata @ 90 g/day/animal), T₂ (Moringa oleifera @ 150 g/day/animal), and T₃ (combination of 45 g L. reticulata + 75 g M. oleifera per day/animal). All cows were maintained on a basal diet of concentrate mixture, green fodder, and wheat straw, while treatment groups received the respective herbal supplements in addition. Blood samples were collected monthly to evaluate hematological parameters, including hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), and differential leukocyte count (DLC). Results showed that Hb and most differential leukocyte counts remained unaffected by supplementation, except for neutrophils which were significantly (p