Impact of azolla supplementation on body weight and feed cost in TANUVAS Aseel chicks

Abstract

This study focussed the impact of azolla supplementation on body weight and economic efficiency in TANUVAS Aseel under intensive system of rearing. This study is conducted with 240 chicks having four treatments and 60 chicks each with three replicates. Control (T1) group fed with normal diet, and the treatment groups viz., T2, T3 and T4 had 10% 20% and 30% fresh azolla in addition to the basal diet. This experiment was conducted during chick stage upto 8 weeks. Control group and azolla supplementation group showed similar body weights during 2nd, 4th ,6th and 8th weeks of age. But there is a significant variation in feed consumption in treatment group due to intake of fresh azolla in diet. Significantly less feed consumption of T4 group was observed during 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week and the values in grams were 81.25± 0.18, 128.24± 0.22, 208.15± 0.07 and 376.16± 0.23 respectively. Hence it is suggested that azolla can be included in the feed for TANUVAS Aseel to reduce the feed cost without compromising the body weight at correct age.