Feed composition, intake and digestibility: The chemical compositions of different feed used in the experiment have been given in the Table 1. Proximate analysis of
Azolla pinnata (% DM Basis) revealed that DM, organic matter, total ash, CP, EE, NDF and ADF was 9.95±.03, 79.7±0.18, 20.3±0.28, 26.5±0.08, 3.9±0.13, 44.28±0.18, 39.4±0.06 respectively. The proximate composition of
Azolla pinnata obtained in the present investigation (DM, EE, NDF, ADF, CP, OM and ASH) were similar to the values obtained by the
(Chatterjee et al., 2013; Das et al., 2017). However, similar or slightly higher value of CP were obtained by (26.6%,
Katoch et al., 2017; 26.7%,
Becerra et al., 1995; 28.59%,
Ahirwar et al., 2012 and 28.24%,
Indira et al., 2009) while lower values of CP were reported by other workers (20.45%,
Rathod et al., 2013; 21.17%,
Sujatha et al., 2013; 21.4%,
Alalade and Lyayi, 2006; 21.66%,
Kavya et al., 2014; 21.80%,
Yadav and Chhipa, 2016; 22.93%,
Sihag et al., 2018; 22.5%,
Ashraf et al., 2015 and 24.93%
Swain et al., 2018).
A digestibility trial of 7 days was conducted at the end of experiment and results obtained were shown below in the Table 2. The results obtained revealed that there was no significant difference seen in the digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, EE and NFE in between all the three (T
0, T
1 and T
2) groups. However, there was significant difference in CP digestibility between three groups and the average values were 66.9 ±0.76, 68.04±1.66, 72.11 ± 1.59 (p<0.05) respectively. There was no significant difference in total dry matter intake (DMI), CP intake (CPI) and TDN intake in between all the three groups but numerically higher value for DMI, CPI was observed in the T
2 group as compared to control group. The results for the same have been depicted below in the Table 3. Similar results with regards to DMI, CPI, TDN were obtained by
(Khare et al., 2014; Sihag et al., 2018; Wadhwani et al., 2010). However
Srinivas et al., (2012) found that the average digestibility levels of DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicellulose (P > 0.05) reduced with the inclusion of
Azolla meal.
The DM digestibility in between all the three groups is non-significant and similar results were obtained by
Arvind, (2012) on DM digestibility of calves by supplementing with dried Azolla meal. However
Ghodake et al., (2012) recorded a greater DM digestibility in Osmanabadi kids. The CP digestibility in the T
0 group was statistically significant as compared to T
2 groups, while T
1 and T
2 groups were statistically non-significant.
Indira et al., (2009) also found a greater coefficient of digestibility of crude protein (58.0 per cent) in treatment group than in the control group (52.0 per cent) for buffalo calves.
Ghodake et al., (2012) also reported a greater CP digestibility by replacing 15% of the concentrate mixture by weight in Osmanabadi kids that were feed Azolla. However
Khare et al., 2014 reported that difference in the CP digestibility between the two groups was statistically non-significant in azolla fed and azolla free groups. The CP digestibility is statistically significant and reason attributed to it is due to the higher degradability of true soluble protein (B
1) (42.56 of % CP on DM basis) of
Azolla pinnata with the degradability rate of 200 to 300% per hour and hence better digestibility
Parashuramulu et al., (2013). The fraction B
1 and B
2 of
Azolla pinnata (approx. 58% CP) have about 100% intestinal degradability. The metabolizable protein found in it was 84% suggesting it can act as a potential protein supplement
(Parashuramulu et al., 2013) and hence the higher CP digestibility in azolla fed group. The ether extract, NDF, ADF and digestibility recorded were non-significant in between all the three groups and similar results were obtained by
Alalade et al., (2006); Sharma et al., (2013); Chatterjee et al., (2013); Kumar et al., (2012). However different results were obtained by
(Ghodake et al., (2012); Querubin et al., (1986); Arvindraj. (2012);
Buckinghum et al., (1978); Alalade et al., (2006) as compared to present research.
Growth performance
The average body weight of Sahiwal calves taken fortnightly did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) in both of the treatment groups as compared to control group depicted in the Table 4 while there was significant difference in ADG in between the groups. The average daily live weight gain (kg) in the T
1 and T
2 group was non-significant statistically (p > 0.05). However the overall daily live weight gain (ADG) in between T
0 and T
2 groups was significant statistically (p< 0.05) and also there was non-significant difference in the overall ADG in between the T
0 and T
1 groups (p<0.05). The ADG of calves at different fortnight have been presented in Table 5. The average body weight of the animals in T
0, T
1 and T
2 group was non-significant (p > 0.05). However ADG gain was significant in between the T
0 and T
2 groups (p < 0.05) and non-significant in between the T
0, T
1 and T
1, T
2 groups. Similar results were observed by
Sihag et al., (2018) who reported higher ADG when concentrate mixture was replaced with Azolla at level of 10%.
Akhud et al., (2017) also reported higher ADG in Nagpuri buffalo calves where 30% of concentrate mixture was replaced with
Azolla pinnata.
Roy et al., (2016) also concluded that replacement of concentrate mixture with
Azolla pinnata at 5% level helps in improving the ADG of Hariana heifers.
Khare et al., (2014) also revealed higher ADG in the treatment group supplemented with Azolla as compared to control group.
Indira et al., (2009) also reported that by replacing
Azolla at 50% level with the groundnut cake, there was significant difference in the growth performance of buffalo calves and also ADG (gm/day) differ significantly.