Efficacy of Murraya paniculata Leaf Flour in Reducing Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Goats Fed Date Pulp-Based Diets

Abstract

Subclinical mastitis is a major concern in dairy production, leading to economic losses and antibiotic dependence, which poses risks of milk residue contamination. As a natural alternative, orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) leaves, rich in flavonoids, exhibit antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the effects of incorporating date pulp and orange jasmine leaf flour (OLF) into the diets of lactating Ettawa crossbred goats on lactation performance and subclinical mastitis indicators. A randomized block design with a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement was applied using 15 primiparous lactating goats distributed across: control diet (35% forage + 65% concentrate), 10% date pulp with or without 1% OLF, and 20% date pulp with or without 1% OLF. Results showed that dry matter intake decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with control, while dry matter digestibility was influenced by the interaction between date pulp and OLF but remained above the physiological threshold for ruminants. Milk yield and most milk components were not significantly affected, although fat content increased (p < 0.05) with OLF supplementation. Hematological parameters and leukocyte differentiation showed no significant differences among treatments, remaining within normal physiological ranges. Notably, the combination of 20% date pulp and 1% OLF resulted in the largest reduction in somatic cell count (up to 68.75%) and lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, reflecting improved udder health and reduced systemic inflammation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 20% date pulp and 1% OLF represents a promising strategy to enhance udder health and mitigate subclinical mastitis in lactating goats without compromising production performance.