J Krishi Vigyan 2013, 2(1) : 73-75

Use of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as Cattle Feed

Supplement
G N Mathur, Ramakant Sharma and P C Choudhary
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ajmer-305 001 (Rajasthan)
ABSTRACT
Azolla (Azolla pinnata) has enormous potential as a livestock feed due to its high content of
protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, growth promoter intermediaries and minerals. KVK,
Ajmer pioneered the Azolla cultivation technique in Rajasthan and developed a prototype for
its cultivation. This technology of cultivation of Azolla was transferred through conductance of
demonstrations in five villages. Feeding of Azolla as livestock feed to milch animals resulted in
increase in milk yield and fat content. Success of the technology led to its wide scale adoption
and KVK Ajmer has so far established 523 Azolla cultivation units during the last five years in
the district .
Key Words: Azolla, Livestock, Milk yield,
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INTRODUCTION very important to enhance economic livestock

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Despite being largest producer of milk, in production to establish that Azolla is reckoned as
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India there acute shortage of feed and fodder for “The Super Plant”.
dairy animals. Shortage of dry fodder, green
fodder and concentrate has been estimated to be MATERIALS AND METHODS
12 to 14 per cent, 25 to 30 per cent and 30 to 35 Considering the nutritive value of Azolla,
per cent, respectively. The shortage of fodder is Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ajmer developed a cost
therefore, compensated with the use of readymade effective prototype of Azolla cultivation for mass
commercial feed resulting in increased cost of milk multiplication and it’s feeding to livestock.
production. The search for alternatives to green
fodder and concentrates led to a wonderful plant Details of technology: Ajmer Model for
Azolla, which holds the promise of providing a
sustainable feed for livestock.
Azolla is a free floating, rapidly growing
aquatic fern on water surface. It floats as small,
flat, compact green mass. Under ideal conditions
it grows exponentially, doubling its biomass in
every three days. There are at least eight species
of Azolla worldwide; Azolla caroliniana, Azolla
circinata, Azolla japonica, Azolla mexicana,
Azolla microphylla, Azolla nilotica, Azolla pinnata
and Azolla rubra. The common species of Azolla
in India is Azolla piñnata. It produces more than
4 to 5 times of protein of excellent quality in
comparison to lucern and hybrid napier. Besides cultivation of Azolla.
this, the bio- mass production is almost 4 to 10
times when compared with hybrid napier and Maintenance of Azolla
lucern, respectively. These two parameters are - Add water to maintain the depth up to 10 cm.
*Corresponding Author’s Email: [email protected]

J Krishi Vigyan 2013, 2(1) : 73-75 73

 Mathur et al
- Add 5 Kg. of cow-dung after mixing it each farmer were taken to study the impact of
thoroughly in water every month. feeding of Azolla. Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 Kg.
- Add 20 g super phosphate every month along fresh Azolla was fed to the milch animals per day
with the cow-dung to maintain daily yield of along with usual ration. The animals were
1.5-2.0 Kg. Azolla. maintained on chaffed sorghum fodder at ad lib
and 3 to 4 kg of commercial concentrate mixture.
- Remove Azolla and change water and soil
These selected animals had already completed a
completely after every third month and re-
period of three months of lactation period. The
inoculate as a fresh bed.
observations on milk yield and milk fat percentage
Utilization of Azolla as cattle feed was recorded for three months starting from one
The hitherto produce Azolla should be month after the Azolla was included in ration of
harvested with a large sieve having holes of 1 cm. animals.
mesh size to drain the water. Harvested Azolla
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
should be washed with clean water to get rid of
The data revealed there was 20.96 per cent
the cow dung smell. This Azolla may be was fed
increase in milk yield of cows when ration was
to cattle after mixing in concentrate ratio in 1:1
supplemented with Azolla while it resulted in
ratio.1.5 to2.0 Kg of Azolla may be fed to milch
16.90 per cent increase in buffalo milk yield. The
animal per day.
milk yield and fat percentage increased from 1.0
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Economics of Azolla production to 1.5 l and 4.3 to 4.7 per cent in cows and from
1.0 to 1.4 l and 6.2 to 6.9 per cent in buffaloes,
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Azolla Production in one unit during one year respectively (Table 1). Kamalasanana et
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(Approx.) = 680 kg. al (2002) also found an increase in milk yield

Giving due consideration to the one-time cost when Azolla was combined with regular feed, and
of permanent structure and recurring expenses, that 15-20 per cent of commercial feed could be
the cost of Azolla Production would be less than replaced with the same quantity of Azolla on dry
60 paisa per Kg. weight basis without affecting milk production,
providing a 20 to 25 per cent savings on buying
Effect of feeding Azolla as cattle feed supplement commercial feeds. General reaction of the farmers
The technology was demonstrated in five was that the animal starts showing excellent sign
villages namely Bhagwanpura, Surajpura, of health such as improved hair coat condition,
Ganaheda, Picholia and Motisar by selecting six brightness in eyes, moist muzzle and always
farmers from each village. Thus, a total of 30 activeness after feeding of Azolla.
farmers and one cow and one buffalo each from

Kuccha Trench Pucca Trench

Digging charges of trench (size of unit Rs. 100.00 200 Bricks Rs. 700.00
6.0 x 1.0 x 0.2 mt)
Cement 3 bags @ Rs. 270/- Rs. 810.00
Cost of silpauline sheet (120 G) Rs. 350.00 Gitti + Sand Rs 400.00
Nylon Shady net 50 %( 7 x 2 mt). Rs. 420.00 Nylon Shady net 50 %( 7 x 2 mt). Rs. 420.00
@ Rs. 30/- mt @ Rs. 30/- mt
Azolla 2 kg @ Rs. 50/-kg Rs. 100.00 Azolla 2 kg @ Rs. 50/-kg Rs. 100.00
Cow dung 70 kg (5-10 kg.+ 5kg./month) Rs. 70 .00 Cow dung 70 kg Rs. 70 .00
(5-10 kg.+ 5kg./month)
Super phosphate 240 gms. Rs. 2.00 Super phosphate 240 gms. Rs. 2.00
@20 gm. / month @20 gm. / month
Total Rs. 1042=00 Rs. 2502=00

74 J Krishi Vigyan 2013, 2(1) : 73-75

 Use of Azolla (Azolla pinnata) as cattle feed
Table1. Effect of feeding of Azolla as livestock feed on milk CONCLUSION
parameters (n=30) The study on feeding of Azolla indicated that
Parameter Cow Buffalo the farmers of Ajmer district have adopted this
Initial Final Initial Final hitherto developed model of “KVK Ajmer model
Milk yield (l/ d) 6.20 7.50 7.10 8.30 for cultivation of Azolla”. Farmers felt that the
Milk Fat (%) 4.3 4.7 6.2 6.9 technology is highly useful because of easy
methodology and the results are also visible within
Horizontal spread of technology a short period of time. The improvement in health
Inspired by the easy method of cultivation, and physical condition of animals, increase in milk
good yield and economy of production and being yield particularly, motivated the farmers to talk
exposed to extension interventions made by about Azolla and enhance its horizontal spread of
KVK, large number of farmers started practicing this technology.
cultivation of Azolla on small scale. After the
REFERENCES
impact of the technology was established and feed
back of farmers was encouraging, the KVK Kamalasanana P, Premalatha, S and Rajamony, S (2002). Azolla –
A sustainable feed substitute for livestock. Leisa India, March,
contacted Project Director of ATMA, Department 2002, pp. 15-17.
of Agriculture, Govt. of Rajasthan for its faster
horizontal spread and was successful in getting
approval of 50 per cent subsidy of Rs. 2000/- for
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construction of Azolla in pucca trench. Through

this approach, large numbers of livestock owners
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were contacted and 523 Azolla cultivation has

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been established by KVK Ajmer from year 2008

to 2013. (Table 2)
Table:-2. Year-wise Azolla unit established by KVK Ajmer

Year Quantity of No. of unit

Azolla (Kg) established
2008-09 130 65
2009-10 260 130
2010-11 98 49
2011-12 78 39
2012-13 236 118
2013-14 244 122
Total 523

Received on 13-11-2013 Accepted on 23-11-2013

J Krishi Vigyan 2013, 2(1) : 73-75 75