FEEDING VALUE OF AZOLLA (AZOLLA PINNATA) IN BUFFALO CALVES

The study was conducted to evaluate the potential feeding value of Azolla by its chemical composition, amino acid profile, IVDMD, Insacco D M and Crude protein degradability. Azolla a potential protein replacement in concentrate mixture of ruminants, chemical composition of Azolla pinnata DM, CP, CF, EE, NFE, TA and AIA of A. pinnata were 4.23, 28.24, 22.25, 4.00, 30.71, 14.80 and 4.13, cell wall constituents NDF, ADF values were 72.05, 66.18. Amino acid composition Arginine, Cystine, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, valine were 6.82, 2.06, 5.42, 2.31, 5.78, 9.04, 6.41, 1.68, 4.60, 2.11, 4.10, 6.65, IVDMD % was 60.20, Insacco DM degradability % was 51.56, in sacco CP degradability (%) of A. pinnata was 47.15. Based on the results Azolla is rich protein source and has rich Amino acid profile and the result of percent of dry matter disappearance, degradability in vivo and in vitro studies showed the best performance of A. pinnata in terms of dry matter utilization in buffalo cows. In sacco crude protein degradability 55 to 60 %. Hence A. pinnata was recommended as a good unconventional protein supplement in the rations of ruminants and non ruminants.