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Applied Biological Research 17(2): 214-218; (2015) SHORT COMMUNICATION
DOI: 10.5958/0974-4517.2015.00031.2
EFFECT OF Azolla-SUPPLEMENTED FEEDING ON MILK PRODUCTION
OF CATTLE AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS
Nidhi Rawat1*, K. Kumari2, F. Singh3 and V.R. Gilhare1
1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, 2I.L.F.C., College of Veterinary Science and Animal
Husbandry, Anjora, Durg, Chhattisgarh – 491 001 (India)
3Division of Animal Health, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar - 304 501
Rajasthan (India)
*e-mail: dr_nidhirawat@yahoo.com
(Received 27 March, 2015; accepted 3 June, 2015)
ABSTRACT
Studies were conducted to explore the possibility of using Azolla (Azolla
pinnata) as feed ingredient in cow and broiler ration. In 1st study, 60 cross-
bred cows in their 2nd to 4th lactation were randomly divided into 2 groups
and fed with or without Azolla supplemented commercial feed (1:1 ::
Azolla: concentrate). Azolla-fed group showed a significant increase of
11.85% in milk production. In 2nd study, 220 one-day-old ‘Vencobb’
broiler chicks were divided into 2 groups and fed with commercial feed
supplemented with or without dried Azolla meal [5% feed]. Result showed
significant improvement in cumulative feed intake, body weight and FCR
in broiler group fed with Azolla. The use of Azolla in cattle and broiler
ration improved their production performance; so has a great potential as
sustainable efficient feed supplement for cow and broiler (upto 5%).
Key words: Azolla, broilers, cow, milk production, FCR, weight gain
INTRODUCTION
Azolla (Azolla pinnata), a floating water fern, is an unconventional feed ingredient as it is not
accepted by most of the livestock owners. They consider it a noxious weed (Lumpkin et al., 1980).
Adaption of Azolla in India has been slow and sporadic due to poor yield, pest handling and storage
difficulties and labour difficulties (Tamizhkumaran and Rao, 2012). It grows naturally in stagnant
water of drains, canals, ponds, rivers and marshy lands (Basak et al., 2002). It is most economic and
efficient feed substitute for livestock and increases milk and meat production in animal
(Pannaerker, 1988). Azolla is rich in protein, essential amino acids, carotinoids, vitamins, growth
promoters and minerals (Basak et al., 2002) and contains 20.0-25.5% protein, 3.1% fat, 34.9%
carbohydrates, 8.5-11.7% cellulose and essential amino acids (Sithara and Kamalaveni, 2008).
Carbohydrates and oil contents are very low in Azolla. High protein and low lignin content
contribute for its high digestibility by livestock. Azolla can be mixed with commercial feeds in 1:1
ratio (2 kg each) for feeding livestock (Pillai et al., 2005). Azolla may serve as a valuable protein
supplement for many species (Hasan and Chakrabarti, 2009). Besides dairy animals, it may be
supplemented in feed for sheep, goat, pig, rabbits and poultry. It increases body weight of broiler
chicken (Singh and Subudhi, 1978; Basak et al., 2002) and egg production of layers (Namara,
2000). In present scenario, the dairy farmers are dependent on commercial feeds, which are not
economical for livestock production. Studies on Azolla supplementation in cattle and broilers are
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Effect of Azolla-supplemented feeding on cattle and broilers
215
scanty; therefore, the present experiments were aimed to assess the effects of Azolla feeding on
production performance of cattle and broilers so that the possibility of Azolla as a low cost feed
ingredient is explored.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A study was conducted in 2012 on crossbred dairy cows (n = 60) in 2nd to 4th lactation for 12 weeks
at Dongargaon block of district Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh). The culture of Azolla (Azolla pinnata)
was obtained from Central Semen Station, Anjora, Durg and cultivated on large scale on UV
stabilized silpauline sheets as described by Pillai et al. (2005). It was harvested at weekly interval
and used for cattle feeding. After harvest, Azolla was dried and ground to make meal for feeding
the broiler chickens. Sun-dried ground Azolla was y analyzed for crude protein, ether extract, crude
fiber, nitrogen free extract, ash, calcium and phosphorus on dry matter basis as per the standard
methods AOAC, 1990).
A study was conducted on crossbred dairy (Sahiwal cross) cows (n = 60) in second to fourth
lactation for 12 weeks at Dongargaon block of district Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India in January
to March 2012. Animals were divided randomly into two equal groups; one group was fed with
fresh Azolla in commercial feed @ 1:1 (1.5 kg Azolla + 1.5 kg concentrate). The other group was
fed on commercial feed without Azolla supplementation. All the animals were monitored daily for
milk yield during the period of supplementation. The animals were maintained under proper
managemental conditions. Animals are kept in Pucca House. Individual cows were isolated by iron
pipes. Separate feed mangers were provided. Animals were duly vaccinated and dewormed.
Animals were milked twice daily (4 am and 4 pm) by full hand milking. Milk yield was measured
by measuring cylinder and measuring flask. Record was maintained on register for individual cows.
In another study, 220 day-old Vencobb broiler chicks, owned by a self-help group, were divided
equally in two. One group (n = 110) was supplemented with dried Azolla meal @ 5.0% commercial
feed. The other group fed on feed without Azolla supplementation was taken as control. The broiler
birds were reared on deep litter system following the proper managemental conditions for feeding,
watering, vaccination and medication. Individual bird data was recorded. All the birds were
monitored weekly for body weight gain against feed consumption upto 42 days. The data was
statistically nalysed using independent t-test (Snedecor and Cochran, 1994).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The chemical analysis of sun-dried and ground Azolla showed that it contained 24.1% crude
protein, 3.75% ether extract, 15.1% crude fiber, 40.25% nitrogen free extract, 16.8% ash, 2.18%
calcium and 0.47% phosphorus on dry matter basis. The crude protein content of Azolla estimated
in the present study closely agrees with Cherryl et al. (2014) and Balaji et al. (2009).
The result of experiment 1 milk yield of dairy cows fed with or without Azolla, recorded at
15 days interval was shown in Table 1. There was significant (p<0.01) increase in milk production
of dairy cows supplemented with fresh Azolla. The milk productivity started to increase after one
week of Azolla supplementation, which further increased for next four weeks and thereafter it
became constant at increased level. Milk yield increased by 11.85% after Azolla supplementation in
dairy cows. All the treated animals were apparently healthy during the course of supplementation.
There was no adverse effect on palatability of Azolla mixed feed for animals. The results of present
study agreed with Pillai et al. (2005) who reported that fresh Azolla increased 10-15% milk
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Nidhi Rawat et al.
216
Table 1: Fortnightly milk produc
tion performance of cattle
#
fed with or without Azolla for 12
weeks
Milk production/ cow
Azolla treated group (L)
Control group ( L)
Level of significance
0
-
15 day
118.98 ±
0.70
a
115.00
±
0.06
b
**
15
-
30 day
127.18
±
0.05
a
116.17
±
0.02
b
**
31
-
45 d
ays
131.21
±
0.08
a
117.87
±
0.13
b
**
46
-
60 days
131.22
±
0.08
a
117.83
±
0.09
b
**
61
-
75 day
130.60
±
0.09
a
117.81
±
0.10
b
**
76
-
90 day
130.50
±
0.13
a
117.14
±
0.10
b
**
Average
128.28
±
0.08
a
116.97
±
0.12
b
**
**P
0.01
;
# values shown in table is the
average of many cattle (average of how many values)
production in dairy cattle and saved 20-25% of commercial regular feeds. Increase in milk
production might be due to high protein and minerals content of Azolla with low lignin content that
contribute for better digestibility and nourishment. Azolla is an efficient livestock feed and is rich in
protein, essential amino acids, carotenoids, vitamins, growth promoters and minerals (Basak et al.,
2002). The observation in the present study is also in accordance with Khare et al., (2014) who
reported that when Azolla replaced mustard oil cake in lactating cow, there was significant (p<0.05)
increase in milk yield. Present finding in the value of milk production is lower than the observation
of Gauri et al., (2012) who found it to be increased by 15-20%. According to Ambade (2010) there
is milk yield increase by 15 to 20% after feeding of azolla in the diet of dairy cows and 15 to 20%
commercial feed can be replaced with azolla. The profitability was comparatively higher in Azolla
supplemented dairy cows due to significant higher milk yield against half replaced commercial
feed. On weekly basis, each cow additionally produced 5.69-lit milk with saving of 10.5 kg
commercial feed.
In broiler birds result showed that during the entire experimental period Azolla treated group
(I) had significant improvement in cumulative feed intake, cumulative body weight and FCR as
compared to control except feed intake in first week and body weight in third week Table 2). The
present finding agree with Naghsi et al. (2014) who reported significant improved body weight and
FCR compared to control when fed azolla @ 5% level. There was no adverse effect on palatability
and weight gain in broiler birds supplemented with Azolla meal. These findings agreed with Basak
Table 2: Feed consumption body weights and feed conversion ratio of broiler# chickens fed with
or with Azolla upto 42 days of age
Parameters
Days
Group I
: S
upplemented with
Azolla
Group II
:
W
ithout Azolla
supplementation
Level of
significance
Feed consumption
(g bird-1 )
0
-
7
179.72
±
1.93
175.44
±
1.95
ns
0
-
14
561.62
±
15.89
b
611.13
±
15.63
a
*
0
-
21
1167.73
±
44.29
b
1275.93
±
46.76
a
**
0
-
35
3156.10
±
25.52
b
3232.17
±
25.28
a
**
0
-
42
4185.26
±
46.19
b
4316.39
±
46.80
a
*
Body weight
(g bird-1)
0
-
7
127.44
±
2.48
a
121.83
±
2.61
b
*
0
-
14
376.84
±
1.68
a
372.30
±
1.69
b
*
0
-
21
758.24
±
0.90
a
757.85
±
1.01
b
ns
0
-
35
1725.36
±
4.57
a
1710.43
±
4.68
b
*
0
-
42
2157.25
±
3.62
a
2147.37
±
3.15
b
*
Feed conversion
ratio unit (g g-1)
0
-
7
1.42
±
0.04
1.45
±
0.03
ns
0
-
14
1.49
±
0.04
b
1.64
±
0.04
a
**
0
-
21
1.54
±
0.06
b
1.68
±
0.06
a
*
0
-
35
1.83
±
0.01
b
1.89
±
0.01
a
**
0
-
42
1.94
±
0.02
b
2.01
±
0.02
a
**
* (P0.05); ** P0.01); ns stands for non-significant;
# values shown in table is the average of how many birds (average of how many values)
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Effect of Azolla-supplemented feeding on cattle and broilers
217
et al. (2002) who reported that feeding of dried Azolla up to 5% level does not negatively influence
the cumulative body weight gain and feed consumption of broiler chickens. However, Bested and
Morento (1985) reported that Azolla affected the palatability of the feed and reduced feed
consumption. The survivability of birds was cent percent in Azolla treated group, which indicated
that Azolla meal has no deleterious effect on broiler birds. Similar findings are reported by Castillo
et al. (1981) and Basak et al. (2002). The overall performance of Azolla treated birds was
significantly better than control group. It might be due to immunomodulatory effect of dried Azolla
supplementation in broiler ration (Prabina and Kumar, 2010).
The average body weight per broiler bird was 1880.0 g against 3184.6 g total feed consumed
in Azolla supplemented group compared to 1780.2 g body weight against 3176.5 g feed
consumption in control group (Table 2). However, the feed consumption per bird was almost
similar but output was higher in Azolla treated group due to 5% commercial feed replacement and
cumulative higher body weight gain. For 100 broiler birds, the economic analysis revealed
additional gaining of 9.98 kg body weight with saving of 15.92 kg commercial feed. Feeding Azolla
to poultry birds improves the weight of the broiler chicken and increases the egg production in
layers. The difference in findings might be due to either unbalanced feeding practices followed by
the owner or change in local environmental condition. It can be concluded that Azolla as a feed can
be used for feeding the cows and poultry in rural areas to reduce the production cost for attaining
higher gain.
Acknowledgement: The authors are thankful to Deputy Director Veterinary Services, Rajnandgaon
for providing all necessary facilities to conduct the present piece of work.
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