AZOLLA – A Sustainable feed for CATTLE & POULTRY

Azolla is a free floating water fern that floats in water and fixes nitrogen in association with the nitrogen fixing blue green algae, Anabaena azollae. Azolla is considered to be a potential biofertilizer in terms of nitrogen contribution to rice. Long before its cultivation as a green manure, Azolla has been used as a fodder for domesticated animals such as pigs and ducks. In recent days, Azolla is very much used as a sustainable feed substitute for livestock especially dairy cattle, poultry, piggery and fish.

Azolla contains 25 – 35 per cent protein on dry weight basis and rich in essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins and carotenoids including the antioxidant b carotene. The rare combination of high nutritive value and rapid biomass production make Azolla a potential and effective feed substitute for live stocks.

AZOLLA – A sustainable feed substitute for livestock

• The dairy became main occupation in rural area because of agriculture is receding.
• Since growing demand for meat and milk, the animal husbandry became profitable income source for rural poor
• Cultivation of Dwarft crops and decrease in forest and graze lands resulted sustainable decline in fodder production
• The dairy farmers are dependent on commercial feeds
• The commercial feeds are mixed with urea and artificial milk booster
• They Causes effect on quality of milk produced and longevity of the animal
• In turn leads to cancer and coronary ailments in human beings
• Usage of commercial feed is not economical and declines income
• Azolla is the most economic and efficient feed substitute for live stock
• Azolla is a floating fern in shallow water
• Azolla is very rich in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B12, Beta carotene) and growth promoter intermediaries and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, ferrous, copper, magnesium etc.,)
• Azolla on dry weight basis is constituted of 25.35% protein content, 10.15% mineral content and 7 – 19% a combination of amino acids, bio active substances and bio polymers
• Carbohydrate and oil content are very low in Azolla
• Azolla can be easily digestible by the livestock, owing to its high protein and low lignin content
• Milk yield increases by 15 to 20%
• 15 to 20% commercial feed is replaced by azolla
• Azolla feeding does not affect the milk production, improves quality of milk and health and longevity of livestock
• Feeding Azolla to poultry birds improves the weight of the broiler chicken and increases the egg production of layers
• Azolla can be fed to sheep, goat, pig and rabbits as feed substitute.

AZOLLA PRODUCITON

• An artificial water body is made, preferably under the shade of a tree with the help of a silpauline sheet
• A pit of the size of 2 m x 2m x 0.2 m is dug as a first step
• The pit is covered with plastic gunnies to prevent the roots of the near by trees piercing the silpauline sheet
• Spread over the silpauline sheet over the plastic gunnies
• About 10 – 15 kgs. of sieved fertile soil is uniformly spread over the silpauline sheet
• Slurry made of 2 kg. cow dung and 30 gms. of super phosphate in 10 liters of water is poured into the sheet
• More water is poured to make water level reach about 10 cm.
• About 500 gms. - 1 kg. of fresh and pure culture of Azolla is inoculated in the pit
• Azolla will rapidly grow and fill the pit within 10 – 15 days
• About 500 – 600 gms. of Azolla can be harvested daily thereafter
• A mixture of 20 gms. of super phosphate and about 1 kg. of cow dung should be added once in 5 days to keep the Azolla in rapid multiplication
• Micro nutrient mix containing trace element is added weekly intervals to enhance mineral content of Azolla
• In this method the cost of production of Azolla is less than 65 ps/pit

PRECAUTIONS

• A shady place, preferably under a tree with sufficient sunlight should be chosen for the Azolla production unit. A place of direct sunlight should be avoided
• All corners of the pit should be of the same level so that the water level so that the water level can be maintained uniformly
• Azolla bio mass @ 399 gm. – 350 gm. / sq. mt should be removed daily to avoid over crowding and for keeping the fern at rapid multiplication
• Suitable nutrients should be supplied as and when, nutrient deficiency is noticed
• Plant protection measures against pests and disease should be taken as and when required
• About 5 kg. bed soil should be replaced with fresh soil, once in 30 days to avoid nitrogen build up and prevent micro nutrient deficiency
• 25 to 30% water also needs to be replaced with fresh water once in 10 days to prevent nitrogen build up in the bed
• Replacement of water and soil should be followed by fresh inoculation of Azolla at least once in six months
• A fresh bed has to be prepared and inoculated with pure culture of Azolla when contaminated by pest and diseases

USING AZOLLA AS LIVESTOCK FEED

• Azolla should be harvesting with plastic tray having holes of 1 sq. cm. mesh size to drain the water
• Wash to get rid of the cow dung smell
• Azolla should be mixed with commercial feed in 1 : 1 ration to feed the livestock
• Livestock can be fed directly with Azolla
• Dried Azolla can be powder and added to the regular feed

Compiled Shared by - DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, JAMSHEDPUR

      

How Does A Cow Turn Grass Into Milk

Cows have the most unusual system for turning grass into milk.  

They have not one, but four stomachs – each of which performs a special function.

1. The Rumen

When cows graze on grass they swallow it half chewed and mix it with water in their first stomach called the Rumen.  It is here that the digestion process starts.

2. The Reticulum

In the Reticulum the grass is formed into small wads called ‘cuds’.  Each cud is then returned to the mouth where the cow chews it 40 to 60 times for about 1 minute.

3. The Omasum

The chewed cud is swallowed into a third stomach, the Omasum, where it is pressed to reduce water and broken down further.

4. The Abomasum

The grass then passes to the fourth stomach, called the Abomasum where it is digested.  Finally it passes through the intestines where the cow takes out everything she needs to keep her healthy and strong and make good milk.

NOTE:  Because a cow makes milk night and day, she needs to be milked regularly.