Effect of Replacement of Concentrate Mixture with Azolla on Growth, Blood Metabolites and Economics in Alpine X Beetal Goat Kids

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the replacement of concentrate mixture with azolla on growth, blood metabolites and economics of kids. Thirty Alpine × Beetal female kids (3 to 4 months-old, 12.82±0.65 kg body weight) were divided into three groups of 10 each. Kids in all the groups were fed a total mixed ration consisting of maize fodder and concentrate mixture in 60:40 ratio. Group T1 was kept as control, while in T2 and T3, the concentrate mixture was replaced with azolla at 25 and 50% levels. The feeding trial was conducted for 90 days. The average daily intakes of dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients in T1, T2 and T3 were 577.74±15.46, 565.34±16.77 and 526.66±15.94 g; 87.23±1.42, 80.82±1.58 and 72.56±1.49 g and 386.64±7.42, 358.95±5.25 and 347.15±4.88 g, respectively. The average daily gain of kids was significantly (P<0.05) lower in T3 than T2. The total feed cost/kg body weight reduced by 18.76% in T2 and 16.00% in T3 compared to control. It was concluded that the replacement of concentrate mixture with azolla at 25% level in the diet reduced feed cost without affecting the growth and health of kids.