NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF AZOLLA SPECIES AND THEIR BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ON PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES OF BROILERS AND LAYING HENS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The rising cost of soybean meals (SBM), which typically make up 20-25% of broiler and layer diets, has driven the search for sustainable and cost-effective alternative protein sources. Azolla, an aquatic fern belonging to the family Salviniaceae family, has emerged a promising substitute owing to its high protein content. However, its utilization in poultry diets is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) such as phytates, oxalates, cyanogenic compounds, and tannins. This review synthesizes findings from published studies on the nutritional composition of azolla and its effect on performance and product quality in broilers and laying hens. The review also show that azolla can be supplemented up to 10% in chicken feed without adversely affecting body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production, or egg quality. Although higher inclusion levels may cause adverse effects due to the presence of ANFs; these can be mitigated through conventional processing methods, such as sun-drying. In conclusion, azolla is a nutrient-rich protein source and can be included up to 10% in the diets to improve performance parameters in broilers and laying hens. However, further research is warranted to determine the optimal inclusion levels that maximize production performance, health indices, and product quality while minimizing feed wastages.