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Effect of feeding Azolla pinnata in combination with direct-fed microbial on broiler performance

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Abstract

A study was conducted on broiler birds for 42 days to determine the effect of feeding azolla along with direct-fed microbial (DFM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, biochemical parameters and carcass characteristics. A total of 360-day-old male broiler chicks were divided into 3 groups and 12 replicates with 10 chicks per replicate, according to complete randomized block design. One group was fed a diet containing 2.5% azolla (A) and another was fed a diet containing 2.5% azolla, with direct-fed microbial (A + DFM), viz. L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus, at the concentration of 13.4 × 108 and 1.52 × 108 CFU per mL, respectively, mixed in the daily quota of feed. The control group (CON) was fed a basal diet without azolla and DFM. Azolla fed alone and with DFM did not affect growth performance and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of birds during pre-starter and starter phase; however, significantly (P < 0.05) lower weight gain and higher FCR were observed during finisher period, resulting in an impaired overall FCR. Decreased (P < 0.05) plasma cholesterol and increased (P < 0.05) tibial calcium content were observed in birds fed azolla with DFM. The highest value (P < 0.05) of carcass characteristics like gizzard weight, breast muscle yield and lower meat pH were recorded in the birds fed azolla in combination with DFM, followed by birds fed azolla alone. In conclusion, azolla feeding at 2.5% level shows positive effect on breast muscle yield and gizzard weight of broiler which can be enhanced upon adding DFM to azolla-based diet.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Department of Animal Nutrition, DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur, HP, India, for the providing the provision of resources and facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Nutrition, DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur, HP, 176062, India

    Shambhvi, Shivani Katoch & Prince Chauhan

  2. Department of Animal Nutrition, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India

    Shambhvi & Prince Chauhan

  3. Department of Livestock Product Technology, DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HPKV, Palampur, HP, 176062, India

    Bandu Gangadhar Mane

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Animal welfare statement

All the animal experimentation procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (CSKHPKV University, Palampur, HP, India). The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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Shambhvi, Katoch, S., Chauhan, P. et al. Effect of feeding Azolla pinnata in combination with direct-fed microbial on broiler performance. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 5 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02437-w

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