Article
ETHNOVETERINARY APPLICATION OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA FRUIT PUREE ON A COMMERCIAL HEIFER REARING FACILITY WITH ENDEMIC SALMONELLOSIS
African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines (impact factor: 0.71). 01/2013; DOI:10.4314/ajtcam.v10i1.1
ABSTRACT
We have previously reported that Morinda citrifolia (noni) puree
modulates neonatal calves developmental maturation of the innate and
adaptive immune system. In this study, the effect of noni puree on
respiratory and gastrointestinal (GI), health in preweaned dairy calves
on a farm with endemic salmonellosis was examined. Two clinical trials
were conducted whereby each trial evaluated one processing technique of
noni puree. Trials 1 and 2 tested noni versions A and B, respectively.
Puree analysis and trial methods were identical to each other, with the
calf as the experimental unit. Calves were designated to 1 of 3
treatment groups in each trial and received either: 0, 15 or 30 mL every
12 hr of noni supplement for the first 3 weeks of life. Health scores,
weaning age, weight gain from admission to weaning, and weaned by 6
weeks, were used as clinical endpoints for statistical analysis. In
trial 1, calves supplemented with 15 mL noni puree of version A every 12
hr had a higher probability of being weaned by 6 weeks of age than
control calves (P = 0.04). In trial 2, calves receiving 30 mL of version
B every 12 hr had a 54.5% reduction in total medical treatments by 42
days of age when compared to controls (P = 0.02). There was a trend in
reduced respiratory (61%), and GI (52%) medical treatments per calf when
compared to controls (P = 0.06 and 0.08, respectively). There were no
differences in weight gain or mortality for any treatment group in
either trial.