Year: 2018 | Month: August | Volume 8 | Issue 4
Effect of Inclusion of Sun Dried Azolla (Azolla pinnata) at Different Levels on the Growth and Performance of Broiler Chicks
Abstract:
A total of 150, day old broiler chicken were randomly distributed into 5 treatments with three replicates having ten chicks in each replicate to evaluate the effect of inclusion of different levels of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) on growth and performance of broiler chicks. The birds in group control (C) were fed on basal diet while in treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4 the basal diet was supplemented with 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of sun dried Azolla, respectively. The body weight gain was higher (P<0.01) in treatment T3 (2182.07) which was comparable with T2 (2173.10) and T4 (2132.67). Highest (P<0.01) feed consumption was recorded T3 (3900.98) group. FCR was significantly (P<0.01) lowest in T2 (1.67) which was comparable with T1 (1.72) group. The DM digestibility and nitrogen balance were found to be similar in all the groups however nitrogen voided was higher (P<0.05) in T2 group. Performance index was highest (P<0.01) in T2 (1299.62) group similarly protein efficiency ratio was also higher (P<0.01) in T2 (3.33) group which was statically similar to that of T3 (3.13) and control (2.93). Feed cost/ kg broiler (in `) and total cost/ kg broiler (in `) was lowest in T2 group. Therefore, inclusion of Azolla up to 7.5% level in the ration improved body weight gain and feed consumption in broiler chicken. Beyond this level of supplementation, there was reduction in Performance of broilers.
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