Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review

Livestock plays a significant role in the livelihood enhancement of the people, especially in rural areas. The requirement for dietary protein for people from the animal sources is expected to increase. However, due to problems of feed shortages and high costs of feed the livestock sector and its co...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sale Alebachew Chekol, Teshager Zerihun Nigussie, Bernabas Aynshet Fenta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Food & Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2024.2367804
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850062976626720768
author Sale Alebachew Chekol
Teshager Zerihun Nigussie
Bernabas Aynshet Fenta
author_facet Sale Alebachew Chekol
Teshager Zerihun Nigussie
Bernabas Aynshet Fenta
author_sort Sale Alebachew Chekol
collection DOAJ
description Livestock plays a significant role in the livelihood enhancement of the people, especially in rural areas. The requirement for dietary protein for people from the animal sources is expected to increase. However, due to problems of feed shortages and high costs of feed the livestock sector and its contribution to the country’s economy are threatened in many countries. To address this problem, exploration of alternative sources of cheap feed resources is imperative. Azolla is one of the cheapest feed resources grown in water bodies, mainly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. There are various species of Azolla used as a feed source for livestock. Azolla filiculoides, Azolla pinnata and Azolla microphylla are the main species of Azolla that contribute to livestock feed. Nutritionally, Azolla is a good source of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is commonly used for feeding poultry, sheep, and goats, and dairy cattle. Azolla is used as a supplementary feed with other feed resources to increase feed intake, growth, egg production, and milk yield, as proven by many researches. Besides animal feeding, Azolla is also used for soil fertility improvement, bioremediation, compost making, and biogas production. Therefore, the production and utilization of Azolla in an appropriate, way particularly in wetland areas will contribute to improving livestock nutrition and productivity.
format Article
id doaj-art-fb940c12429e4f8f9dffff0504118d0b
institution DOAJ
issn 2331-1932
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Food & Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-fb940c12429e4f8f9dffff0504118d0b2025-08-20T02:49:47ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322024-12-0110110.1080/23311932.2024.2367804Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a reviewSale Alebachew Chekol0Teshager Zerihun Nigussie1Bernabas Aynshet Fenta2Department of Animal Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Statistics, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, EthiopiaDepartment of Animal Science, Woldia University, Woldia, EthiopiaLivestock plays a significant role in the livelihood enhancement of the people, especially in rural areas. The requirement for dietary protein for people from the animal sources is expected to increase. However, due to problems of feed shortages and high costs of feed the livestock sector and its contribution to the country’s economy are threatened in many countries. To address this problem, exploration of alternative sources of cheap feed resources is imperative. Azolla is one of the cheapest feed resources grown in water bodies, mainly in tropical and sub-tropical countries. There are various species of Azolla used as a feed source for livestock. Azolla filiculoides, Azolla pinnata and Azolla microphylla are the main species of Azolla that contribute to livestock feed. Nutritionally, Azolla is a good source of amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. It is commonly used for feeding poultry, sheep, and goats, and dairy cattle. Azolla is used as a supplementary feed with other feed resources to increase feed intake, growth, egg production, and milk yield, as proven by many researches. Besides animal feeding, Azolla is also used for soil fertility improvement, bioremediation, compost making, and biogas production. Therefore, the production and utilization of Azolla in an appropriate, way particularly in wetland areas will contribute to improving livestock nutrition and productivity.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2024.2367804Azollanutrientmacrophytenon-conventionalfeedPedro González-Redondo, University of Seville, Spain
spellingShingle Sale Alebachew Chekol
Teshager Zerihun Nigussie
Bernabas Aynshet Fenta
Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
Cogent Food & Agriculture
Azolla
nutrient
macrophyte
non-conventional
feed
Pedro González-Redondo, University of Seville, Spain
title Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
title_full Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
title_fullStr Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
title_full_unstemmed Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
title_short Azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed: a review
title_sort azolla as a beneficial macrophyte for livestock feed a review
topic Azolla
nutrient
macrophyte
non-conventional
feed
Pedro González-Redondo, University of Seville, Spain
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2024.2367804
work_keys_str_mv AT salealebachewchekol azollaasabeneficialmacrophyteforlivestockfeedareview
AT teshagerzerihunnigussie azollaasabeneficialmacrophyteforlivestockfeedareview
AT bernabasaynshetfenta azollaasabeneficialmacrophyteforlivestockfeedareview