Effect of dietary inclusion of azolla (Azolla pinnata) on production performance of broiler chicken

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy, to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of sun dried and ground Azolla (Azolla pinnata) on growth performance of broiler chicken. The study was conducted for a period of six weeks with one hundred and sixty, day-old commercial broiler chicks. The chicks were divided into four different treatments with four replicates of ten chicks each. The T1 was control with standard broiler ration and dried Azolla powder was supplemented in the basal diet at 1.5 per cent (T2), 3.0 per cent (T3) and 4.5 per cent (T4). The rations were made isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Chicks were reared under standard managemental conditions up to six weeks of age. The broiler starter ration was fed from 0 to 4 weeks of age and thereafter finisher ration during fifth and sixth week of age. Results of the present study revealed that supplementation of dried Azolla did not influence final body weight of broilers. The cumulative body weight gain up to sixth week of age did not reveal any significant difference among treatments. However, there was numerical reduction in both body weight and weight gain due to Azolla supplementation. The cumulative feed intake up to sixth week of age did not reveal any significant difference among treatments. But numerically lower feed consumption was recorded in 1.5 per cent (T2) and 3.0 per cent (T3) Azolla supplemented groups. The cumulative feed efficiency up to six week of age revealed no significant difference among the treatment groups. Although feed efficiency was numerically more with Azolla supplemented groups the differences were negligible. The per cent dressed yield, eviscerated yield, ready-to-cook yield, feather loss and total loss in broilers were not influenced by dietary supplementation of dried Azolla. The per cent giblet yield of birds fed with 4.5 per cent Azolla (T4) was significantly higher (P≤0.05) than control and other treatments. Giblet yield was low (P≤0.05) with 3.0 per cent Azolla supplemented group. The dietary supplementation of dried Azolla at 1.5 per cent level numerically reduced the serum total cholesterol level, while at 3.0 and 4.5 per cent levels (T3 and T4) there were significant (P≤0.05) reductions in serum total cholesterol. The dietary supplementation of dried Azolla at 4.5 (T4) per cent had significantly higher (P≤0.05) serum creatinine value than other treatment groups. The supplementation of Azolla at 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 per cent levels significantly (P≤0.05) reduced the breast meat cholesterol in broilers. The supplementation of Azolla at 3.0 and 4.5 per cent levels significantly reduced the thigh meat cholesterol in broilers than control and 1.5 per cent Azolla fed groups. The livability of birds in all four treatments were comparatively similar up to two weeks of age. However, at the end of experiment birds in 3.0 and 4.5 per cent Azolla supplemented groups livability per cent was less to the extent of 5 and 2.5 per cent respectively than control and 1.5 per cent Azolla fed group. Net profit per kg body weight was slightly lowered as a result of inclusion of dried Azolla at all three levels in broiler diet. The results of the present study suggest dried Azolla can be incorporated in broiler rations up to 4.5 per cent without affecting the economic traits. Moreover, dietary inclusion of dried Azolla in broiler rations is beneficial for substantial reduction in the cholesterol content of poultry meat.