EFFECT OF AZOLLA AS PARTIAL FEED SUBSTITUTE ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF ITIK PINAS (Anas platyrhynchos)

Abstract

The escalating prices of commercial feed ingredients, attributed to production challenges, market constraints, and raw material availability, have led to significant price hikes, with reports indicating a 30% increase from 2022 to 2023. These factors critically impact the sustainability of duck farming in the Philippines, discouraging farmer engagement in the industry. In response to these challenges, Azolla (Azolla pinnata), an aquatic fern rich in essential amino acids and crude protein, emerges as a potentially economical, abundant, and readily available alternative feed source for poultry. This study investigates the effect of Azolla pinnata as a partial feed substitute on the growth performance of Itik Pinas. Eighty ducklings were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (each with two replicates of ten ducks) and fed four different diets: T1 (100% Commercial Feeds (CF)), T2 (20% Fresh Azolla + 80% CF), T3 (30% Fresh Azolla + 70% CF), and T4 (40% Fresh Azolla + 60% CF). Body weight increased significantly in the T2 and T3 groups, while feed consumption showed no significant difference among all treatment groups, indicating that adding fresh azolla did not affect feed intake. The feed conversion ratio and feed conversion efficiency also showed no significant differences among all groups. Using Cost Minimization Analysis, it was determined that all treatments achieved the target weight and Treatment 4 was the most cost-effective being 31.9% less expensive than the control treatment. Thus, substituting up to 40% of commercial feed with fresh azolla does not negatively impact the efficiency of feed conversion into body weight in the Itik Pinas breed of ducks.