Utilization of Azolla as a feed component for chicken

<p>Fadzlin Afiqah A Samad, Lokman Hakim Idris, Goh Yong Meng and Loh Teck Chwen</p>

doi:10 .4172/2327-4581.1000411

Utilization of Azolla as a feed component for chicken

Fadzlin Afiqah A Samad, Lokman Hakim Idris, Goh Yong Meng and Loh Teck Chwen

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

: J Vet Sci Med Diagn

Abstract

The poultry industry is known as the most profitable agricultural business in Malaysia which provides quality meat and eggs for consumer. However, farmers have been facing problems in this industry; the high cost of feed and the non-availability of the feed ingredient with reasonable cost and good quality. 65 -70 % from the total cost of poultry production around is a feed cost. The cost of feed sources like protein is fluctuating and it’s may affect the feed price. Therefore, poultry farmers trying to look any alternative feed ingredients to reduce cost. Azolla spp. contains high protein and has a potential to replace the commercial feeds ingredient. However, there is no scientific study about the utilization of Azolla spp. as a feed component for chicken. Thus, the objectives of this study are; to determine the potential of Azolla spp. as a feed ingredient and to analyze the nutritional properties of Azolla spp. For their suitability as a component of chicken feed. Proximate analysis of Azolla spp. (Crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, ash and dry matter) has been done in this study. From the results, Azolla spp. has 24.82 % of crude protein, 26.64% of crude fiber, 5.14% of dry matter, 11.59% of ash and 2% of crude fat. The results show Azolla spp. could be utilized to substitute the ingredient of chicken feed from the overall production and economic point of view.