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