Effect of feeding Azolla (Azolla pinnata) meal to broilers: A field study in Assam

Effect of feeding Azolla (Azolla pinnata) meal in broilers was studied at field level in the state of Assam. For this, day-old broiler chicks (n= 200) divided into four groups with two replicates of 25 in each were allotted to four dietary treatments containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 percent Azolla (Azolla pinnata) meal replacing the conventional feed ingredients. Among various groups, the broilers which were fed the highest level of Azolla meal (15 per cent) showed significantly (P<0.05) lowest body weight gain, poorest fed efficiency and highest cost of feeding per kg of live weight gain. The broilers, which consumed 5 per cent Azolla meal showed comparable body weight gain, feed consumption and fed efficiency to that of control group; whereas, exhibited lower cost of feeding as compared to the control group. Among all the experimental groups the broilers which consumed 5 per cent Azolla meal showed the lowest cost of feeding per kg of live weight. It was concluded that Azolla meal, at the rate of 10 per cent, can be safely included in the broiler diet without affecting production performance.