Feeding Value of Fermented Duckweed Meal (Lemna minor Linn.) as a Plant Protein Components in the Formulated Diets of Free- Range Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus Linn.)

The present study evaluates the growth performance and hematological attribute of experimental free-range chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus Linn. (Black Australorp x Barred Plymouth Rock) fed formulated diets of fermented and non-fermented duckweed meal (Lemna minor Linn.). Three isonitrogenous formulated treatment diets are prepared: 0% duckweed (control), 10% Fermented Duckweed Meal (FDM), and 10% Duckweed Meal (DM) inclusions. Five chickens (mean weight = 202.5 g) per replicate are used in a three-month feeding trial under single factorial experiment. Chickens fed FDM diet have significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean final weight (1,182.8 ± 42.13 g) as compared to those fed DM diet (1,070.4 ± 84.61 g). The mean final weight of control and FDM is significantly homogenous (P > 0.05). Variation in feed conversion ratio among treatments is significant, with the highest mean value being observed in DM (5.85 ± 0.52). The average daily gain in weight is higher in DM and is comparable with the control (P > 0.05). Treatment diets have no significant effect on the observed hematological variables.