Effect of Partial Substitution of Soybean Meal (Glycine Max) by Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristic of Cobb500 Broiler Chickens
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Abstract
This study was designed to assess the effects of partial substitution of soybean meal with Azolla pinnata meal (AZM) on growth performance and carcass components of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted in Jimma University, consisting of four dietary treatments replicated three times with ten chicks per replicate using a completely randomized design. The control diet (T1) contained soybean meal as the major protein source without AZM and treatment diets containing AZM at the levels of 25 g/kg (T2), 50 g/kg (T3), and 75 g/kg (T4) by partially substituting the soybean meal in the experimental diet. The final body weight and total weight gain of the individual bird was (p<0.01) higher in chickens fed with T3 than those reared on T2, and T4 diets. The feed conversion ratio of chickens fed on T3 was (p<0.03) lower than those reared in T2 and T4. Chickens fed with T3 diet had higher values of slaughter, dressed carcass and breast yield than those reared in T2 and T4 diets. The results of economic analysis revealed that the highest net return was calculated from chicken fed on T3. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in major commercial carcass components among treatment diets. Thus, partial substitution of soybean meal by AZM might be considered as viable option in smallholder poultry production practices taking into account the
high cost of soybean meal.