National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
A study was conducted to evaluate the utility of Azolla as a feed supplement to poultry birds. Two species of azolla viz., A. microphylla and A. filiculoides and two Azolla hybrids viz., Rong ping and TNAU1 were initially analyzed for their nutritional parameters so as to select the suitable Azolla species to feed the poultry birds. Azolla hybrids Rong ping and TNAU1 recorded higher biomass production than wild Azolla cultures. A maximum protein content of 318.20 µg/mg dry weight was recorded by the Azolla hybrid Rong ping. The Azolla hybrid Rong ping also showed maximum carotenoid (2.01 µg/mg) and b carotene (0.64 µg/mg) content. The layer birds fed with Azolla hybrid Rong ping registered an overall egg productivity of 89.0% as against 84.0% recorded by the birds fed with only concentrated feed. The average daily intake of concentrated feed in the birds fed with Azolla was considerably low (106 g) due to nutrient supplementation by Azolla. The total protein content of the eggs laid by the Azolla fed birds was high (14.0 g/100g of edible portion) and the total carotene content of these eggs (440 µg/ 100 g of edible portion) was also higher than the control. The increase in egg productivity, nutritional value and savings in the concentrated feed clearly indicated the suitability of Azolla as a potential feed supplement for poultry birds.
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