Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers
ABSTRACT The rising cost and environmental impact of conventional protein sources in poultry feed necessitate exploration of sustainable alternatives. Azolla pinnata (AP), a nutrient-rich aquatic fern, has emerged as a promising candidate. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of AP as a susta...
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| Format: | Article |
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Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2024000400302&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | FU Khan R Ullah L Kinkpe SU Hassan IS Ahamba N Goswami MA Binobead AMA Cedric HQ Ahmed M Shuaib |
| author_facet | FU Khan R Ullah L Kinkpe SU Hassan IS Ahamba N Goswami MA Binobead AMA Cedric HQ Ahmed M Shuaib |
| author_sort | FU Khan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The rising cost and environmental impact of conventional protein sources in poultry feed necessitate exploration of sustainable alternatives. Azolla pinnata (AP), a nutrient-rich aquatic fern, has emerged as a promising candidate. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of AP as a sustainable feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on its impact on growth, feed efficiency, gut health, and profitability. To obtain AP, we harvested green Azolla from river banks using plastic sieves, sun-dried it, and pulverized it. Three-hundred-day-old Cobb chicks were individually weighed and randomly assigned to four dietary groups, namely: Group A (the control, 0g APM/kg feed), Group B (1g APM/kg feed), Group C (2g APM/kg feed), and Group D (3g APM/kg feed). The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments, each having three replicates of 15 broilers. Broiler weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), villus height, villus-crypt ratio, and economic returns were assessed. The results showed that broilers fed with 3g APM/kg feed had significantly improved weight gain, optimal feed intake, and the lowest FCR compared to other groups. This group also exhibited increased villus height and villus-crypt ratio, suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption. Notably, the 3g APM/kg feed group showed a 22% increase in net returns compared to the control. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of APM as a sustainable and cost-effective protein source in broiler diets. It offers economic benefits to farmers while promoting gut health and improved broiler performance. Further research can explore the long-term effects and optimal APM inclusion levels for large-scale adoption in the poultry industry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9254d45d181246a28d14b192141cd366 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1806-9061 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-9254d45d181246a28d14b192141cd3662025-08-20T02:23:05ZengFundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia AvícolasBrazilian Journal of Poultry Science1806-90612024-11-0126410.1590/1806-9061-2024-1954Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial BroilersFU Khanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-3636-1516R Ullahhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9563-5695L Kinkpehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8192-0981SU Hassanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-2740-3414IS Ahambahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0255-9129N Goswamihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6710-7721MA Binobeadhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1978-8198AMA Cedrichttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8716-4192HQ Ahmedhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6777-4903M Shuaibhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-8257-2701ABSTRACT The rising cost and environmental impact of conventional protein sources in poultry feed necessitate exploration of sustainable alternatives. Azolla pinnata (AP), a nutrient-rich aquatic fern, has emerged as a promising candidate. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of AP as a sustainable feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on its impact on growth, feed efficiency, gut health, and profitability. To obtain AP, we harvested green Azolla from river banks using plastic sieves, sun-dried it, and pulverized it. Three-hundred-day-old Cobb chicks were individually weighed and randomly assigned to four dietary groups, namely: Group A (the control, 0g APM/kg feed), Group B (1g APM/kg feed), Group C (2g APM/kg feed), and Group D (3g APM/kg feed). The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments, each having three replicates of 15 broilers. Broiler weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), villus height, villus-crypt ratio, and economic returns were assessed. The results showed that broilers fed with 3g APM/kg feed had significantly improved weight gain, optimal feed intake, and the lowest FCR compared to other groups. This group also exhibited increased villus height and villus-crypt ratio, suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption. Notably, the 3g APM/kg feed group showed a 22% increase in net returns compared to the control. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of APM as a sustainable and cost-effective protein source in broiler diets. It offers economic benefits to farmers while promoting gut health and improved broiler performance. Further research can explore the long-term effects and optimal APM inclusion levels for large-scale adoption in the poultry industry.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2024000400302&lng=en&tlng=enAzolla Pinnata mealfeed intakeFCRgut histomorphologybroiler |
| spellingShingle | FU Khan R Ullah L Kinkpe SU Hassan IS Ahamba N Goswami MA Binobead AMA Cedric HQ Ahmed M Shuaib Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science Azolla Pinnata meal feed intake FCR gut histomorphology broiler |
| title | Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers |
| title_full | Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers |
| title_fullStr | Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers |
| title_short | Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata Meal Improves Gut Histomorphology and Growth Performance in Commercial Broilers |
| title_sort | substitution of soybean meal with azolla pinnata meal improves gut histomorphology and growth performance in commercial broilers |
| topic | Azolla Pinnata meal feed intake FCR gut histomorphology broiler |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2024000400302&lng=en&tlng=en |
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