Indian Journal of Animal Research

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Indian Journal of Animal Research, volume 55 issue 6 (june 2021) : 663-668

Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Azolla pinnata Feeding in Sahiwal Calves (Bos indicus) by Replacing Protein Content of Concentrate with Azolla pinnata during Winter Season

Ninad Bhatt1, Nitin Tyagi2, Ramesh Chandra1, Deepak Chand Meena3, C. Kotresh Prasad1
1Department of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India.
2Animal Nutrition Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India.
3Dairy Extension Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India.
Cite article:- Bhatt Ninad, Tyagi Nitin, Chandra Ramesh, Meena Chand Deepak, Prasad Kotresh C. (2020). Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Azolla pinnata Feeding in Sahiwal Calves (Bos indicus) by Replacing Protein Content of Concentrate with Azolla pinnata during Winter Season . Indian Journal of Animal Research. 55(6): 663-668. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-4004.
Background: Globally, human population in increasing at a very fast rate which is decreasing the land coverage with time. It was found that only 4% of the area is left for cultivating fodder. As a consequence, livestock is dependent on crop residues that are poor in dietary quality, crude protein with high fibre. Also the concentrate, most vital element in animal diet is very expensive and responsible for reducing the income. It is the need of the hour to develop cheap protein sources to promote adequate growth along with raising income. Under this context, Azolla pinnata can act as the best source for protein substitution. The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of protein replacement through Azolla pinnata on performance of Sahiwal female calves. 

Methods: The experiment were conducted in 18 growing Sahiwal female calves distributed into three groups (T0, T1and T2) for 90 days. The animals in (T0) group were fed as per ICAR 2013 feeding standards, while  (T1) and T2 group was fed by replacing 15%, 30% protein content of concentrate with Azolla pinnata on DM basis respectively. 

Result: Proximate analysis of Azolla pinnata revealed that it has higher CP value (26.50% on DM basis) and there was no significant difference in total dry matter intake, CP intake and TDN intake in all the treatment groups. The average daily live-weight gain (ADG) was higher in T2 followed by T1 group. Thus, it can be concluded that Azolla pinnata can be used as a novel initiative for protein replacement in Sahiwal female calves.
Bovine population of India is increasing day by day and the percent increase as per 20th Livestock Census is 1.0% over the previous census but, we are deficient in fodder availability and the dry, green fodder and concentrates were estimated at 3, 30 and 70 percent respectively (NIANP vision, 2030). Out of the entirely cultivable land, only 4% of the area is used in the cultivation of fodder, resulting in a sharp decline in the accessibility of fodder. As a consequence, livestock rely primarily on crop residues as their primary feed resource in most area of India, which are poor in dietary quality, crude protein and high in fibre. These problems, combined with increasing demand for animal products due to rapid population growth and urbanization, justified studies into better use of crop residues and improved diets for ruminants and non-ruminants in India to boost growth, production and animal health status. Using marketable available feed is not always cost-effective and it is responsible for reducing the net income. The standard sources of feed, both roughage and concentrate, aren’t enough to satisfy the needs of the country. In order to bridge this huge difference between demand and nutrient supply and guarantee optimum livestock production throughout the year, a multi-dimensional approach, which is including the use of non-conventional feed resources as a complement or replacement for standard feed, without interfering with the quality in conjunction with appropriate technologies can help to achieve desirable livestock growth and production. Feed is the largest expense of animal husbandry and is therefore a main determinant of profitability. A substantial increase in profitability could be accomplished by restricting manufacturing expenses through the application of selection techniques to enhance feed effectiveness and maintain proper growth rate and body weight. Under these contexts, Azolla can function very well as it can be grown at minimum labour costs, using minimum land and producing nutrients of high quality all through the year. Azolla could be used as an ideal feed replacement for livestock, fish, pigs and poultry Pillai et al., (2009). Azolla can act as a valuable green feed supplement for dairy cattle to improve productivity in terms of growth, milk, meat, etc., particularly where the availability of green fodder is limited Chatterjee et al., (2013).

Azolla due to its high protein content can play an important role in accelerating growth of animals (Parashuramulu et al., 2013; Mishra et al., 2016; Katoch et al., 2017) thus, it can be used as growth promoter in Sahiwal calves as the average daily weight gain of Sahiwal calves is slow as compared to other dairy cattle species. However, there is hardly any data on the impact of supplementing fresh Azolla pinnata on growth performance of Sahiwal female calves. Thus the current research work was planned with the following objectives:
 
1. To study the impact of feeding fresh Azolla pinnata on nutrient digestibility in Sahiwal female calves by replacing the protein percentage of concentrate with the Azolla pinnata.
2. To investigate the effect of feeding fresh Azolla pinnata on growth performance in Sahiwal female calves by replacing the protein percentage of concentrate with the Azolla pinnata.
The present study was conducted at Livestock Research Centre (LRC) in National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana. Eighteen  Sahiwal female calves, averaging 56 kg live weight and 4 months of age selected from LRC, NDRI, Karnal herd were randomly assigned to three treatment groups of six animals each. The animals were kept in individual pens in a well ventilated room over a concrete floor. The animals were properly vaccinated and dewormed before the start of experiments. The experiment was conducted for the 90 days (13 weeks) from 1 Nov 2018 to 29 Jan. 2019. Azolla had been propagated at the Azolla Production Unit established at Fodder research centre, near ABRC, NDRI, Karnal. A total of about 22 pits were selected for propagating Azolla pinnata and their size was about 11*4.5 feet each.
 
Feeds and feeding
 
A 2 week adaptation period on the regular diet of Azolla pinnata, oats, concentrate was provided to calves. It was followed by the experimental period of 13 weeks (90 days) from during which the groups were fed with the three different treatments. The animals were fed as per ICAR feeding standard (2013). 1st group (T0) was a control group and was fed as per ICAR feeding standard (2013) for calf. 2nd group (T1) was fed as per ICAR standard but by replacing the 15% protein content of the concentrate with the Azolla pinnata and 3rd group (T2) was feed the same but by replacing the 30% protein content of concentrate with the Azolla pinnata. The diets formulated were iso-nitrogenous in all the groups. All the animals were fed individually. Concentrate mixture mixed with Azolla was provided at 8.30 AM and roughage mixed with wheat straw was offered at 9.30 AM and this was fed thrice a day. Mineral supplement and water was offered ad libitum throughout the research. Feed left by the animals were weighed every morning. 
 
Data collection and sampling
 
Feed intake of the animals was measured by offering weighed amount of concentrate mixture and roughage to the animals and record of the residue left were noted daily. Samples of wheat straw, concentrate mixture, oats and Azolla pinnata were collected every week, dried milled and analysed at Animal Nutrition Division, NDRI, Karnal. The total DM contents were analysed as per (AOAC, 2000). The ash content in feed was obtained through incineration at 600° for two hours (AOAC, 2000). The crude protein was measured with Kjeldhal method using KELPLUS KES 1 2L digestion bench (AOAC, 1995). The ether extract was determined using Soxhlet’s apparatus. The calves were weighed at fortnightly intervals on a weighing balance before offering the feed and water. Calves were weighed for two consecutive days in the morning at 8 AM before offering food and water and average of two days was considered as the weight for that fortnight. Initial body weight of all the animals was noted before the start of the experiment. A digestibility trial of six days was conducted in Sahiwal female calves to determine the digestibility of different nutrients by conventional total collection method. During the trial period, samples of feed and fodder offered, residue and faeces were collected. The mean of initial and final body weight during trial were used for the calculation of intake. Samples of feed, refusal and faeces were analysed for proximate principles (AOAC, 2005).
 
Statistical analysis: Average daily live weight gain, live weight changes and dry matter intake were subjected to ANOVA. The different treatment groups were compared using SPSS software and prism applications.
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).
 

Table 1: Proximate composition of different feeds used in trial (% DM Basis).


 
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 (T0, T1 and T2) 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 Tgroup 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.
 

Table 2: Digestibility of nutrients in different treatment groups.


 

Table 3: Nutrients intake during the digestion trial.


       
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 T0 group was statistically significant as compared to T2 groups, while T1 and T2 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 (B1) (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 B1 and B2 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 T1 and T2 group was non-significant statistically (p > 0.05). However the overall daily live weight gain (ADG) in between Tand T2 groups was significant statistically (p< 0.05) and also there was non-significant difference in the overall ADG in between the T0 and T1 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 T0, T1 and T2 group was non-significant (p > 0.05). However ADG gain was significant in between the T0 and T2 groups (p < 0.05) and non-significant in between the T0, T1 and T1, T2 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.
 

Table 4: Mean ± SE Body weight (Kg) of Sahiwal female calves in different groups.


 

Table 5: Mean ± SE Average daily weight gain (ADG) (Kg) of Sahiwal calves.

From this study, it may be concluded that replacing the crude protein content of concentrate by Azolla pinnata @ 15% and 30% level could significantly enhance the growth performance of Sahiwal female calves.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
The authors are highly thankful to ICAR-NDRI Karnal for providing financial assistance to complete the research work.

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