Vol. 10, Issue 3, Part E (2025)

Author(s): Shailesh Kumar Gupta, Ramesh Chandra, Kuladip Prakash Shinde, Archana Singh and Ravi Kumar Soni

Abstract: This study was conducted at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, and Haryana. Total Eighteen Alpine × Beetal male crossbred bucks (average 103.94±2.87 days old) were taken for experiment. The animals were divided into three groups T₁ (fed green fodder like maize, berseem, cow pea, sorghum and concentrate mixture, etc. to meet their daily nutrient requirement as per ICAR, 2013) T₂fed according to T₁ except 20% replacement of concentrate mixture by sun-dried Azolla on DMB) and T₃ (fed according to T₁ except animals were fed with concentrate supplemented with 20% sun-dried Azolla on DMB). Azolla cultivation was done as per standard methods. After harvesting of Azolla it was dried in sun rays. Azolla powder was made by dried Azolla and packed in a polythene packet. Physical parameters as rectal temperature, Respiration rate and Pulse rate were taken as per standard methods. There was no any adverse effect of Azolla feeding on health of animals so rectal temperature, Respiration rate and Pulse rate were statistically non-significant (p<0.05). Azolla can be used as a non-conventional source of feed for bucks and other livestock species.