Azolla as Feed Supplementation on Growth Performance and Economics of Vanaraja Birds in Backyard System of North Western Odisha

Abstract

This study was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Jharsuguda, Odisha under National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture Project in 2019-2020 in the operational villages Bhoimunda and Tharkaspur of Jharsaguda district of North-Western Odisha, India. A total of 300 unsexed brooded chicks, breed Vanaraja, were provided to the farmers under the project and were randomly distributed into three treatment groups (100 birds in each treatment group) with ten replications in each group, having ten birds in each replicate. The study was undertaken for a period of 7 months, from September, 2019 to March, 2020. The study started with birds of 4th week of age and continued up to 28th week of age. Vanaraja birds of group I were let out for foraging with no supplementation, in group II birds were provided with fresh Azolla @ 200 g per bird along with foraging and birds of group III were given commercial feed @ 50 g per bird along with foraging. Weekly body weight gain upto 16th week and egg production upto 28th week were recorded. The benefit cost analysis was also evaluated. The result of this trial indicated that supplementation of azolla in instrumental in increased body weight gain along with higher egg production with better Benefit Cost ratio. Therefore, it can be concluded that feeding of Azolla to poultry birds under backyard condition @ 200 g per day per bird may be highly effective method to get more profit. Under the prevailing situation of change in climatic condition, backyard poultry is a good insurance against crop loss and feeding of azolla to backyard birds will further strengthen the economic status of farmers.