A study was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Siang, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, India for a period of 72 weeks, from January, 2021 to May, 2022 with 300 unsexed 4 weeks old brooded Vanaraja chicks which were provided to the farmers. The birds were randomly divided into five feeding trial groups (20 birds in each treatment group with 3 replications), namely TO1 (birds were let out for foraging with no supplementation), TO2 (basal diet), TO3 (basal diet + 5% fresh Azolla), TO4 (basal diet + 10% fresh Azolla) and TO5 (basal diet + 15% fresh Azolla). Data on weekly body weight gain up to 20th weeks showed no significant difference between Azolla fed groups and basal diet fed groups; whereas, number of egg production up to 72nd weeks recorded as 62.4±3.4, 110.5±3.1, 116.2±3.2, 120.5±4.6 and 128.2±4.8 in TO1, TO2, TO3, TO4 and TO5 respectively. Economic efficiency of Azolla fed birds showed higher economic returns in terms of benefit cost ratio in group TO5 (4.42) than that of basal diet (3.04) and group where birds were let out for foraging (2.59).
Azolla, Egg production, Feed, Growth performance, Poultry