THE IMPACT OF VARYING AZOLLA DOSAGES ON MALE BROILERS DIETS IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND PHYSIOLOGIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Poultry Research Station of the Department of Agricultural Researches / Ministry of Agriculture for the period from 22 to 13 May 2018 which lasted 21 days, using 180 Ross308 male broilers fed on added diets, Azolla was used at levels 5, 10, 20 and 30% for T2, T3, T4, and T5, respectively, and were compared with the control treatment T1 which is free of Azolla. Each treatment included three replicates (12 birds for each replicate) in order to study the effect of using different levels of Azolla in the production and physiological performance and economic feasibility of male meat broilers. A significant decrease (P≤0.05) in economic feasibility characteristics (cost of initial feed and final feed, and the cost of kilogram of the produced meat and low-cost rate per 100 kg/feed) for all Azolla treatments compared to the control treatment. The treatment of 30% Azolla had the most significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the percentage of feed cost compared to the control treatment and other experimental treatments. We conclude from this study that it is possible to add Azolla to the diet by 5% feed to obtain a positive improvement in the productive performance of broilers and achieve the best economic feasibility.