A diet containing Moringa oleifera alters the goat rumen microbiome: an insight into bacteria, ciliates and rumen anaerobic fungi

Background In the present study, we have investigated the impact of Moringa olifera feed on rumen and fecal microbial communities, including bacteria, ciliates, and anaerobic fungi in lactating goats ( Capra hircus ). Lactating goats were divided into three groups based on dietary regimes: masoor straw (MS, n=10), 20% moringa leaf meal (20% MLM, n=8), and 30% moringa leaf meal (30% MLM, n=9). Rumen digesta and fecal samples were collected at the end of the experiment, and amplicon sequencing targeting the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and ITS 1 genes were carried out. Results In the rumen solid and liquid fractions, moringa diet increased the Bacillota:Bacteroidota ratio, which is associated with lower residual feed intake and improved metabolism. An increase in proteolytic bacterial phylum Pseudomonadota was observed with moringa diet . Further, Xylanibacter, Sachharofermentans and Ruminococcus genera, that have active role in volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production during fermentation process ( p -value ≤0.05), were more abundant, while Fibrobacter , Succiniclasticum and Sodliphilus ( p -value ≤0.05), were less abundant in moringa feed groups. Cellulolytic ciliates like Enoplastron and Diploplastron significantly increased ( p -value ≤0.05) while Entodinium reduced in the rumen digesta samples of moringa feed groups. Fiber-degrading fungal genus Neocallimastix was less abundant in the rumen of the goats fed with moringa. Conclusion Overall, these findings suggest that moringa supplementation positively influences rumen microbial communities and provides insights into adjustments in rumen microbiome structure and diversity. These findings are useful in understanding how moringa supplementation influences the rumen fermentation process and further modulating goat feed to improve health and milk production.