Effect of feeding Azolla pinnata on growth performance, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and blood biochemical’s of Hariana heifers fed on roughage based diet

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to observe the effect of substitution of concentrate mixture with Azolla pinnata on growth performance, feed intake, nutrient digestibility and blood biochemical’s of Hariana heifers. Twelve heifers were randomly allocated into two treatment groups for 90 days feeding trial. The heifers were fed either a control diet (C) or the control diet supplemented with Azolla pinnata (T). The heifers of control group were fed with a basal ration comprised of jowar fodder, wheat straw and concentrate mixture according to their nutrient requirement. Concentrate mixture was replaced at 5% level (DM basis) by Azolla pinnata in treatment group. Dry matter intake (DMI) and body weight were recorded fortnightly and blood samples were collected at monthly intervals for analysis of total blood protein, plasma albumin, total plasma immunoglobulin, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In present study, DMI, body weight and body condition score (BCS) were not affected by dietary supplementation of Azolla pinnata. Replacing concentrate with Azolla pinnata improved (P<0.01) fortnightly weight gain, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE). Blood concentration of creatinine and BUN were 53% and 17% lower, respectively in Azolla pinnata supplemented heifers than control group. Serum ALT and AST concentration were reported higher in Azolla pinnata fed heifers. However, other blood parameters and digestibility of nutrient did not change due to replacement of concentrate mixture with Azolla pinnata. In conclusion, replacement of concentrate mixture by Azolla pinnata at 5% level improved the feed conversion efficiency and growth rate of Hariana heifers without any detrimental effect on nutrient intake, digestibility and blood biochemical profile.