Azolla pinnata as unconventional feeds for ruminant feeding

Abstract

Due to the scarcity of concentrate and green fodder and its high prices in animal feeding, the quest for readily available and inexpensive alternative sources has become critical for breeders seeking to minimize the cost of animal production. Azolla is an invasive plant that grows faster in freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands, and ditches in both temperate and tropical countries by a few precautionary steps with low production costs. It can modify biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems substantially. Azolla has a symbiotic relationship with the nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga Anabaena azollae, which increases the protein content of Azolla, making it one of the greatest alternative feed ingredients as a source of protein, with 25–30% protein, 7–10% amino acids, vitamins (Beta Carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B12), minerals (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, ferrous, magnesium, copper, etc.), and antioxidants. Several studies showed that Azolla can be fed to animals like cow, buffalo, sheep, goat and rabbit because it is easily digestible (because to its high protein and low lignin content), increases feed efficiency, average daily gain of animals, and milk production by 15–20%. Therefore, the present review was aimed to show the possibility of using Azolla as a source of alternative low-cost protein and its impact on animal efficiency.

Effects of Feeding Azolla pinnata on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Blood Metabolites of Growing Ardi Goats in Subtropics

“…Of note, in the present study, the positive changes in plasma total protein (g/dl) and urea nitrogen (mg/dl) values were obtained by Azolla pinnata feeding (20.0%) to growing goat kids. This improvement could be attributed to the significant increase of feed conversion to body weight gain (Table 3) as in other studies (El-Naggar and El-Mesery, 2022). The improvement activity of hepatic function is suggested when A. pinnata was fed, which resulted in higher concentration of total proteins as recorded in the present study.…”

“…The goats were daily fed 50% alfalfa hay and 50% concentrate for control group and basal concentrate diet replaced with 10.0 and 20.0% A. pinnata. The feeding levels of A. pinnata were chosen according to the previous studies (Majhi et al, 2006;Saad et al, 2021;El-Naggar and El-Mesery, 2022). The control and A. pinnata diets were offered daily at 8 a.m. after mixing alfalfa hay and the concentrate feed carefully to ensure the consistency of the diet.…”

“…Plasma metabolites and minerals are an indicative of body's health in mammalian species. The positive effects of A. pinnata on plasma metabolites and minerals values might be due to several factors including nutrient digestibility, antioxidative properties, and regulating pathways involved in the metabolism (Radhakrishnan et al, 2014;Das et al, 2017;El-Naggar and El-Mesery, 2022). The green A. pinnata contains beta-carotene and antioxidant vitamin (A) with antioxidant activity that might help in immune health.…”

“…One of the non-conventional feeds that grows on stagnated water, canals, ponds, plastic tubs is Azolla pinnata (Adake, 2015;Ahmed et al, 2016;Roy et al, 2016;Sharma et al, 2021;El-Naggar and El-Mesery, 2022), which requires the presence of water all the time under sunlight or shade of trees. Azolla pinnata is an aquatic ferns and small leafed floating plants, grows in the tropics, subtropics, and warm temperate regions of Africa, Asia, and America (Masoodi and Khan, 2012).…”

Fodder Yield and Quality of Azolla pinnata Cultivated under the Different Water Sources

“…Azolla is an invasive plant that grows faster in freshwater lakes, rivers, wetlands and ditches in both temperate and tropical countries by a few precautionary steps with low production costs. It can modify biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems substantially (El Naggar and El-Mesery, 2022). Among these, the Azolla pinnata is largely cultivated by the farm due to its high nutritive value, a good source of protein with almost all essential amino acids required for animal growth and milk yield.…”