Importance of Azolla plant in poultry production

SUMMARY

Azolla (Azolla pinnata) is a heterosporous aquatic fern distributed all around the world. Azolla looks like other typical ferns that are green in colour however it looks more like duckweed or mosses, freely floating on the water surface. It can be used in animal and poultry feed as a protein source. Azolla has several pharmacological effects and can be used as antioxidant, immune-stimulating, hepato-protective, phytoremediation, bioremediation and also as nutritious material. Azolla contains vitamins (B12, beta carotene, vitamin A), biopolymers, minerals and amino acids. Azolla is rich in trace minerals and carotene. It looks to be potentially hepatoprotective drug against hepatotoxic substances. Its decoction (concentrated liquor of plant) has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic characteristics, making it an attractive preventive and therapeutic drug against super hepatotoxicity. Moreover, laying geese fed Azolla-based diets enhanced their FCR, overall performance, performance index, egg weight, egg production, egg shape index, and yolk colour. Thus, the goal of this explorative study was to learn more about the health advantages of Azolla, as well as to Azolla pinnata’s potential should be made known to scientists, veterinarians, and poultry nutritionists in order to boost chicken productivity.

KEYWORDS:

• Azolla pinnata
• pharmacological effects
• poultry nutrition

Acknowledgments

All the authors of this manuscript are very thankful to and acknowledge their respective universities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Asim Riaz

Mr. Asim Riaz received his DVM Degree from Riphah Veterinary Colleges Lahore, and now currently doing M.Phil in Poultry Science from CUVAS. His research interests mainly involve dietary supplementation of Phytase in broiler diets to get optimum performance of birds. Moreover, he is working on his own private Veterinary Clinic as well.

Muhammad Sajjad Khan

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sajjad Khan did a Ph. D from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) and currently working as a Vice-Chancellor in the University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bahawalpur (PAKISTAN). He Research Completed following Projects 2011-2021. Development and application of decision-support tools to conserve and sustainably use genetic diversity in indigenous livestock and wild relatives. Sponsored by GEF-UNEP-ILRI for Rs 175.39 million as National Project Director for Pakistan. 2018-2021. Establishment of Sub-centre at UAF under “National Center for Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics” Higher Education Commission Rs 43.143 million (as Project Director till Jan 24, 2020). 2017-2019. Position/Policy paper on Cattle Markets in Punjab US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, U A. Faisalabad through Punjab Agriculture Research Board for Rs 0.715 million (as PI). 2016-2019. Production and Dissemination of Heat Tolerant Rural Chicken for Egg and Meat Production. US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, U A. Faisalabad for Rs 7.5 millions (as PI).2014-2017. Improvement of Beetal goats and Indigenous chicken through the availability of superior sires. Sponsored by Endowment Fund Secretariat, UAF for Rs 5.8 million as PI.2015-2016. Studies on Cattle and Goat Value Chain. Agricultural Innovation Program of USAID for Rs 2.6 million (as PI).

Muhammad Saeed

Dr. M. Saeed is presently working as Assistant Professor/Head of Department in the Department of Poultry Science. Faculty of Animal Production & Technology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur –Pakistan. Dr. Muhammad Saeed has earned a Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition with distinction (Chinese Government award) in 2018 from North West Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi China. In his Doctorate studies, he studied the role of L-Theanine dietary supplementation in avian nutrition, and the Ph.D. work he published peer-reviewed research papers in well- known International scientific journals (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, SCI 4.02 IF, Poultry Science, SCI 2.02IF and Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy SCI 5.7IF). Dr. Muhammad Saeed has also presented his scientific work in different international conferences worldwide including UK, Italy, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, and China. His research interests mainly include phytogenic additives in Avian Nutrition with special emphasis on using herbs as antibiotics replacers in the poultry Industry.

Asghar Ali Kamboh

Dr. Asghar Ali Kamboh was born in Mehrabpur, Sindh, Pakistan. He completed his studies in Veterinary Medicine and Masters in Veterinary Microbiology in 2003 and 2007 respectively, with distinguished grades. In 2009, he was awarded an overseas scholarship by the Government of Pakistan and proceeded to China for doctoral studies. Currently, he is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. He has edited two books and published more than 100 research and review articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals.

Rifat Ullah Khan

Dr. Rifat Ullah Khan is currently working as an Assistant Professor (TTS) in College of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Zahid Farooq

Dr. Zahid Farooq is an Assistant Professor (BPS) in the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Bio-Sciences, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur–Pakistan. Dr. Zahid Farooq has earned PhD (Zoology) in 2011 from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. In his Doctorate studies, he has worked on parasitic helminths of domesticated and wild ruminants and documentation of ethnoveterinary practices in the Cholistan Desert of Pakistan. His research interest areas are Wildlife, Ecology, Herpetology, Ornithology, Mammalogy, and Parasitology.

Safdar Imran

Dr Safdar Imran currently working as Visiting Lecturer in the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences and Research Interests: Genetic and phenotypic aspects of adaptation to climate change in Indigenous animal genetic resources.

Muhammad Usman Farid

Dr. Muhammad Usman Farid completed Ph.D. Process Engineering from OvGU Magdeburg Germany. The major working area is industrial processes particularly the combustion of solid fuels for energy generation in thermal power plants and energy units. Currently, I am working as a Lecturer in the Department of Structures and Environmental Engineering, at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan.