Effect of azolla based complete pellet feed on growth, nutrient utilization, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation in Barbari goats

Present study was conducted to examine the effect of replacing concentrate mixture with sun-dried azolla on growth, nutrient utilization, blood and rumen metabolites in growing Barbari goats in completely randomized design. Male Barbari goats (12) were divided into 2 groups, control and experimental, consisting of 6 animals in each group. The control group was fed with complete pellet feed having Bengal gram straw and concentrate mixture in 60:40 ratio, experimental group was fed with complete pellet feed in which 25% of concentrate mixture was replaced with sun-dried azolla. The duration of experimental feeding was 8 weeks. Weekly body weights were recorded to assess growth rate of goats. After 6 weeks of experimental feeding a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted to determine nutrients digestibility and nitrogen balance. Blood and rumen liquor samples were collected at the end of experimental feeding. The average daily gain (g) of control group (56.60) and experimental group (78.12) was statistically similar. The goat of control and experimental group had statistically similar daily dry matter intake. The digestibility (%) of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and total carbohydrate was statistically similar to control and experimental group of goat (52.41, 55.46, 69.72 and 57.46 respectively). Crude protein digestibility was significantly higher in treatment group (77.43) as compared to control (71.14) group of goats. The digestibility (%) of different fibre fractions (neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre), cellulose and hemicellulose were similar in treatment group. Animals of both the groups were in positive balance of nitrogen. There was no statistically significant effect replacement of concentrate mixture with sun-dried azolla on hematology and blood biochemical metabolites (hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides and total cholesterol) of goats. The pH of rumen fluid was 6.30 for control group and 6.25 for experimental group of goats. Total volatile fatty acids (mmol/100ml) were statistically similar in control (15.46) and treatment (16.70) groups of goats. There was no significant difference in nitrogenous fractions (mg/dl), total nitrogen, TCA-ppt nitrogen and non protein nitrogen of rumen fluid collected at the end of experimental feeding of control and treatment group of goats. From present study it can be concluded that sun-dried azolla can replace 25% of concentrate mixture in the complete pellet feed of growing Barbari goats without any adverse effect on growth, nutrient utilization, blood and rumen fermentation parameters.