Effect of varying dietary Azolla levels on growth, carcass characteristics, blood biochemical parameters and digestive enzymes of growing Egyptian geese

The present study was performed to determine the influence of dietary levels of Azolla on growth performance, blood parameters and digestive enzymes of growing geese. At 4 weeks old, 120 Egyptian goslings were randomly distributed to 4 groups, 30 to each group. Geese were fed four levels of Azolla (0, 4, 8 and 16%) during the experimental period (4-12 weeks of age). No significant differences were noticed among the experimental groups on growth parameters except body weight gain (BWG) during 4-8 wk of age and feed intake (FI) at 8-12 wk of age. Plasma total protein (TP), globulin, total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly increased by 8% Azolla level. However, urea level was significantly decreased in geese fed on 8% and 16% Azolla levels compared to 4% level and control group. Super oxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), immunoglobulin (IgG), and lysozyme were significantly reduced by all dietary Azolla levels supplementation. Digestive enzymes were statistically affected by Azolla levels. It can be concluded that use of Azolla in Egyptian geese diets at 8 and 16% achieved positive effects on growth performance and most of blood biochemical parameters during the fattening period.