Effect of feeding Azolla Leaf Powder (Azolla pinnata) on the Performance of Kadaknath Chicken (Gallus domesticus)
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Date
2023
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MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
The present study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding Azolla leaf powder on the performance of Kadaknath chicken. One hundred fifty Kadaknath chicks (four weeks old) were used in a completely randomized design in 5 treatments with 3 replications, each consisting of 10 chicks. The treatments were T1: control, T2: control group supplemented with Azolla leaf powder @ 2.5%, T3: control group supplemented with Azolla leaf powder @ 5%, T4: control group supplemented with Azolla leaf powder @ 7.5% and T5: control group supplemented with Azolla leaf powder @ 10%. In this experiment, body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, FCR, nutrient utilization, nitrogen balance, carcass traits viz., live weight, dressed weight, eviscerated weight, dressing weight percentage, thigh, drumstick, liver, gizzard, heart weight as per cent of slaughter weight and haemato-biochemical parameters were measured to assess the effect of different treatments in Kadaknath chicken.
The overall feed intake was significantly highest in T3 (3769.95±7.14) followed by T5 (3721.08±8.64), T4 (3610.81±6.54), T2 (3570.33±7.71) and lowest feed intake was found in T1 (3545.86±3.40). The differences in feed intake among the different treatment groups were statistically significant. The overall feed conversion ratio was significantly lowest in T3 (3.84±0.02) and highest in control group (4.14±0.03) and T2 (4.09±0.03). The difference in FCR between T1 and T2 as well as between T4 and T5 was found non-significant.
The 16th week of age body weight was significantly highest in T3 (1086.88) followed by T5 (1036.88); T4 (1035.98) and T2 (968.62) and significantly lowest in T1 (964.87). Overall body weight gain was significantly highest in T3 (925.81g) followed by T4 (890.98g); T5 (880.76g) and lowest in T1 (820.64g) and T2 group (819.56g). The difference between T1 and T2 was non-significant. Supplementation of 5% Azolla leaf powder in the diet significantly improved the intake and digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance, however, CP and CF digestibility coefficient remain unaffected upon inclusion of Azolla leaf powder in the diet.
Dressed weight, eviscerated weight and dressing weight percentage was significantly highest in group of birds fed diets containing 5% Azolla leaf powder as compared to rest of the treatment groups. Non-significant effect was found in per cent thigh, drumstick, liver, gizzard and heart among different treatment groups. Supplementation of Azolla leaf powder at 5% level significantly increases the Hb (%), PCV (%) and TLC (%).
From the results, it may be concluded that supplementation of Azolla leaf powder at 5% of total feed is beneficial in improving body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, nutrient utilization, nutrient balance, carcass traits and blood parameters of Kadaknath chicken.
Description
Effect of feeding Azolla Leaf Powder (Azolla pinnata) on the Performance of Kadaknath Chicken (Gallus domesticus)
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Citation
Acharya P. and Gupta L.