Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as a Feed Ingredient in Broiler Ration

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with 120 seven days old Vencobb commercial broiler chicks and continued up to 42 days of age to determine the feasibility of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as a feed ingredient in broiler ration. The broilers are randomly allotted to four dietary treatments; T₁ (control diet without Azolla meal), T₂ (diet with 5% Azolla meal), T₃ (diet with 10% Azolla meal) and T₄ (diet with 15% Azolla meal) diets replacing sesame meal by Azolla meal. The composition of Azolla meal contained 25.78% crude protein, 15.71% crude fibre, 3.47% ether extract, 15.76% ash and 30.08% nitrogen free extract on the air-dry basis. Live weight, production number and protein efficiency were (P< 0.01) significantly improved at the level off 5% Azolla meal in broiler ration. Feed conversion ratio and energy efficiency were significantly (P< 0.01) improved in diet with 5% Azolla meal and control diet. Total cost Tk/kg broiler was significantly (P<0.05) better in the diet with 5% Azolla meal. Dressing percentage was significantly (P<0.01) increased on diet with 5% Azolla meal. Giblet percentage on dietary treatment T₄ significantly (P<0.05) increased than other treatments. It can be conducted that use of Azolla meal up to 5% in the broiler ration found to improve performance and may be used in broiler diet as a safe level. Azolla meal had no deleterious effect on the palatability of broiler diets.