IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS)

e-ISSN: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 15, Issue 11 Ser. I (November 2022), PP 08-12
www.iosrjournals.org

Azolla: Uses, role and Effect in poultry nutrition

O. JAOUEDI 1, M. BEN LARBI 2 B. JEMMALI3
1University of Jendouba, Kef Higher School of Agriculture, Kef 7119, Tunisia
2 University of Carthage, LR13AGR02, Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, Mateur 7030, Tunisia
3 University of Carthage, UR17AGR04, Mateur Higher School of Agriculture, Mateur 7030, Tunisia

Abstract:
Azolla is a plant-based feed that is rarely used for animal feed, which does not compete with human food. It can
be a valuable protein supplement for many animal species such as ruminants, poultry, pigs and fish.
The bio-composition of Azolla makes it one of the most economical, effective and sustainable feed substitutes for
poultry. Therefore, the incorporation of it as an alternative protein ingredient in poultry ration could make
poultry production economically efficient.
Key words: Poultry, Azolla, Proteins, Alternative, Economical.
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Date of Submission: 27-10-2022 Date of Acceptance: 07-11-2022
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I. Introduction
In Tunisia livestock, is one of the main pillars of the national economy and presents the first source of
cash income of rural households. In this livestock sector, poultry farming is a survival strategy for the
population. Indeed, traditional poultry farming is easily accessible to rural households and therefore manages to
generate more income due to the low level of initial investment required in terms of initial investment (Grégoire
et al.2019). It is therefore necessary to improve and then promote improved traditional poultry production. But
this poultry farming is faced with several constraints, among which is feed, which represents 60 to 80% of the
cost of poultry production costs in poultry farming1. The recent globalization of the livestock feed world has
produced series of linkages to a few raw materials that are also very sensitive to any speculative movement of
the main world capital funds. Specifically, in relation to protein sources, soybean meal has been set up as the
unquestionable reference that marks the price behavior of the rest of the products competing for the percentage
of protein (mainly rapeseed and sunflower meal)2.
The use of local, non-conventional feeds in animal feed appears to be an endogenous solution. To this
end, the research and development of locally available alternative food resources available locally should allow
to improve the productivity of poultry while controlling input costs such as Azolla3.

II. Azolla: uses

Azolla is a non-rooted aquatic plant, floating freely on the surface of fresh water 4. The fine stem,
strongly branched, carries adventitious roots adventitious roots forming at regular intervals on the stem. In the
axils of some leaves, secondary stems develop with the same characteristics the same characteristics as the main
stem. The leaves are in the shape of scale of less than half a millimeter long and bordered of a broad
membranous band5. It is present in the tropical and temperate regions and ithas been used for at least a thousand
years in rice fields as a companion plant, due to its ability to not only fix nitrogen 6, but also block light to
prevent competition from other plants, except for rice, which is transplanted large enough to overtake water
through the Azolla layer7.It has numerous pharmacological consequences and can be used as antioxidant,
immune-stimulating, hepato-shielding, phytoremediation, bioremediation and additionally as nutritious material.
Azolla carries nutrients (B12, beta carotene, diet A), biopolymers, minerals and amino acids. Azolla is rich in
hint minerals and carotene. It looks to be potentially hepatoprotective drug towards hepatotoxic substances. Its
decoction (focused liquor of plant) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic traits, making it an
appealing preventive and therapeutic drug in opposition to exquisite hepatotoxicity 8.It may be given directly or
mixed with concentrates to livestock, rooster, sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits. It takes some days for the animals
to get used to the flavor of azolla, therefore it's recommended to feed it with the concentrates in the initial
stages.
As a matter of fact, Azolla can be a valuable protein supplement for poultry.it contains an average of
20,6% as fresh and 21,5% as dried and also contains an average of 5 g lysine/100 g protein and has a relatively
well-balanced amino acid profile.

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 Azolla: Uses, role and Effect in poultry nutrition

Picture 1: azolla on a rice field

Table 1: Nutrient contents of Azolla (g/kg as DM).

Proximate principle Azolla meal
Dry matter 89.91
Crude protein 21.56
Ether extract 3.37
Crude fiber 15.05
Nitrogen free extract 43.69
Total 16.33
Source (feedipedia,2015).
III. Different type of Azolla
The Azolla genus has only a few species, which are all true floating aquatic ferns.
The Carolina fern, Azolla caroliniana: is a small annual fern that grows in warm, sunny waters. Originally
native to the Brasilia region of Brazil, it can be found as far away as the United States, in the state of Carolina,
and also in Mexico and the West Indies. Sometimes called an invasive plant, even a water plague, it has
colonized stagnant waters in Europe and Asia9.
The false fern, Azolla filiculoides: forms a lovely mossy carpet, green in the shade, reddish-brown if the
exposure is sunny. Like duckweed, it covers the surface completely, provided it is placed in warm, non-
calcareous water containing some organic matter in suspension. It is native to the American continent, from the
south of the United States (California) to Argentina, passing by Brazil, Chile, etc. It is the most resistant species,
growing even up to 5 000 meters of altitude in the Andes 9.
The Azolla pinnata or floating fern is rarely found in the trade in Europe, it differs from other species only by
some meristic data and its geographical origin: East Africa, Asia and Australia9.

Picture 2: different type of azolla

IV. Various form of azolla

Azolla can be fed to rooster sparkling or dried and if so, as is or added to pellets, or ultimately after
silage. It ought to be referred to that all right measures should be taken to prevent the presence of any poisonous
pesticide inside the feed in opposition to the presence of any toxic pesticide inside the feed biomass. Finally,
there should be a length of version, as is frequently the case whilst a new type of feed is brought into animal
rations.

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 Azolla: Uses, role and Effect in poultry nutrition

SparklingAzolla:This method of presentation of Azolla entails no processing and no denaturation of the

compounds, but it cannot be saved and its very excessive water content makes it very costly to transport over
lengthy distances and it is not applicable for all animals. But, if this is the case, it is straightforward to get a
partial tedding by way of spreading the Azolla on a drying vicinity. A few hours are typically enough to reduce
the moisture content material from 95% to much less than 50%10.

Picture 3: Sparkling azolla

Dried Azolla: Because the moisture content of Azolla is in particular high, it is not economically desirable to
take into account another dehydration technique than solar drying.However, this implies the provision of
appropriate drying areas near the harvesting website online, suitable climatic situations and sooner or later
sufficient manpower. The operation calls for an initial spreading of the biomass in a layer up to 10 cm thick
which is then turned over 2or 3 times a day, typically for three to four days.Drying, executed below properly
situations, has little impact on the dietary cost however seems to have a bad effect at the organoleptic traits, as a
minimum for a few animals. Itallows n storage and delivery over long distances as well as the manufacturing of
pellets10.

Picture 4: Dried azolla

Azolla in silage: Some chinese farmers ensile the excess biomass from the spring manufacturing and preserve it
to feed their animals in the course of the wintry weather. The approach defined beneath appears to work
properly, but variations are definitely possible. Azolla to be stored in silos have to be clean and barely dry
(approximately 60% moisture content material). They may be packed in cement silos or in plastic luggage.
Whilst the layer reaches 30 cm, salt and corn flour are sprinkled on pinnacle at a fee of 5 g and 50 g respectively
in keeping with kg of azolla earlier than piling on a brand-new layer and repeating the technique. The silo is
then protected. Fermentation takes much less than a month and its product can be saved for two years 10.

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 Azolla: Uses, role and Effect in poultry nutrition

Picture 5: Azolla packed in plastic bags

V. Azolla growing steps

1- Create a pool for growing Azolla.
In order to create the Azolla growing pond, pick a partially shaded area because Azolla needs 30% sunlight, too
much sunlight will destroy the plant. An area under a tree is preferable.
If you decide to grow azolla on a large scale, you can make small concrete reservoirs, otherwise you can make it
any size you want.
2- Dig the ground for the pool, level the ground, and then spread the plastic sheet on it to prevent water loss.
Make sure the pond is at least 20 cm deep.
3- Add some soil evenly over the plastic pool liner. For a pond size of 2M X 2M, add 10-15 kg of soil.
Azolla needs phosphorus to grow well, you can use Super Phosphate with 4-5 days old cow manure. it increases
the available nutrients.
4- fill the pond with water about 10 cm from the edge, which will allow the azolla to float freely, then leave
the pond for 2-3 days for the ingredients to settle.
5- After 2-3 days, add the Azolla culture to the pond by gently rubbing the Azolla in your hands. It helps to
break the Azolla into smaller pieces for faster propagation.
6- After two weeks, start harvesting. In a 2M X 2M pond, you can harvest 1kg of Azolla each day11.

Picture 6 and 7: azolla’s cultivation

VI. Effect of Azolla feeding on poultry performance

In the recent past, few studies have been carried out in poultry in order to evaluate the effect of dried
Azolla on the growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) some of them were experienced on growing black turkeys
under intensive system the results showno significant difference among the different groups of turkeys in the
average weekly weight gain during the entire experiment but FCRwas significantly positive (p<0.05)12.
Other studies were focusedon the effectof incorporating dried azolla (Azolla pinnata) biomass in
chicken rations in improved traditional poultry farming13, these studies showed that rations that received Azolla
incorporation werebetter than the control in terms of growth performance 14.
The live weights of the broilers in one of them were higher in the rations that received different
portions of Azolla incorporation compared to the control15. Theweight performance, feed intake and feed
conversion ratio of the broiler chicks showed that the higher the inclusion of Azolla pinnata,the better for a
partial substitution of roasted soybean meal in the feed ration of broilers. The availability of this resource and

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 Azolla: Uses, role and Effect in poultry nutrition

the ease of its cultivation in ponds make it an alternative to reduce the production costs of broilers in traditional
improved traditional breeding system16-17. This form of valorization of this invasive aquatic plant can contribute
to reduce its environmental impact.And it is the same case as anotherstudy showing that rations that received5.5
to 12% of Azollawere better than the controls in terms of growth performance compared to the control1. The
weight performance, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broiler chicks that the inclusion of 12% Azolla
pinnata is optimal for a partial substitution of roasted soybean meal in the of roasted soybean meal in the broiler
feed ration1, and it can go even to 15%.
Azolla not only has a positive effect on growth but also on meat quality and it has been proven
scientifically insome studies. In layers, the use of Azolla improves productivity in terms of egg quantity and
quality as Azolla contains pigments, minerals, and essential amino acids. Moreover, azolla improves carcass
traits at processing.

VI. Conclusion
Research and development of locally available alternative feed resources such as azolla help to improve
poultry productivity while controlling input costs,but feeding trials stillneeded to beconducted to
establishdigestibility and metabolicutilization, levels of inclusion, productive and economic efficlency of using
these unconventional and local feed resources. This utilization must also be done carefully orneededre moving
precaution in order to take into account the potential anti-nutritional factors contained by some of them which
could causetoxic effects tolivestock

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