RESEARCH ARTICLES
Growth performance of Pratapdhan chicks supplemented with fresh Azolla in backyard system under the arid condition of Rajasthan
Pankaj Lavania and Kailash Chand Bairwa
doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2023.54.1.30-34
Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.2023.54(1):30-34
Author Details
Pankaj Lavania: Assistant Professor, Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Jodhpur (Agriculture University, Jodhpur), 342304, Rajasthan, India
Kailash Chand Bairwa : Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Baytu, Barmer (Agriculture University, Jodhpur), 344034, Rajasthan, India
Article History
Received: 25.06.2022 Accepted: 21.10.2022 Published online: 31.03.2023
Corresponding author: Kailash Chand Bairwa
e-mail : kailashiari@gmail.com
Citation : Lavania,P. and Bairwa,K.C. 2023. Growth performance of Pratapdhan chicks supplemented with fresh Azolla in backyard system under arid condition of Rajasthan. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 54(1):30-34
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2023.54.1.30-34
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of supplementation of fresh Azolla (Azolla pinnata) intervention on body weight gain in Pratapdhan chicks kept under the backyard system in arid conditions of western Rajasthan. The study was undertaken with 60 beneficiaries of Scheduled caste (SC) farmers, for this purpose; they were equally divided into three experimental groups with 20 Pratapdhan chicks each. The experiment group (T0) treated as a farmer practice; only kitchen waste feed was offered to chicks while the T1 birds were given T0 + 1kg mash grains / 20 birds/day was provided. The T2 group birds were fed along with T1 + fresh Azolla pinnata offered @200g kg-1fed to the chicks up to 20 weeks of their age. Based on the results of the study, it could be concluded that 20% of Azolla could be included in the feeding practice of chicks in backyard poultry systems. Conducting farmer’s participatory trials is an effective approach to creating awareness and acceptance towards the Azolla technology. This is a valuable green feed supplement for poultry birds, especially under the backyard production system.
Keywords: Arid ecosystem, Azolla feeding, body weight gain, Pratapdhan