Effect of Azolla Plant Extract on Ruminant Performance

The present study was carried out at the animal farm station and nutrition laboratory, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural, Menoufia University to investigate the effect of azolla plant (Azolla pinnata) extract additive on digestibility, nutritive value, nitrogen balance, rumen fermentation, blood biochemical, hematological criteria and immunity status of Ossimi sheep. Ethanolic extract of azolla leaf was added to animal diets at two levels (200 and 400 mg/kg DM). Twelve Ossimi rams 20 months old with an average body weight of 44.22 ± 2.45 kg were divided into three comparable groups (four sheep /group) according to their live body weight. Animals in control group fed clover hay and concentrate feed mixture (CFM) at 40:60 % roughage concentrate ratio without azolla extract addition (AE0), the treated groups were fed the control diet supplemented with either 200 mg (AE1) or 400 mg (AE2) azolla extract /kg DM respectively, obtained results showed that: