PERFORMANCE OF NARMADANIDHI BIRDS FED AZOLLA SUPPLEMENT DIET

Azolla (mosquito fern, duckweed fern, fairy mass and water fern) is a floating fern in shallow water. It floats on the surface of water by means of nummers, small, closely overlapping scale like leaves with roots hanging in the water. Azolla forms a symbiotic relationship with the cyanobacteria bacterium Anabaena Azollae (Blue green algae), which fixes atmospheric nitrogen to convert into plant nitrogen. Azolla is one of the aquatic petridophyte that may be used as animal food, green manure, bio fertilizer, for increasing soil fertility due to its high nutritional value. Azolla pinnata is a rich source of protein, calcium and it contains almost all essential amino acids, minerals and other vitamins. Narmadanidhi is an improved dual purpose bird developed by the AICRP on Poultry Breeding, NDVSU, Jabalpur. The breed has been developed in such a way that terminal cross has 25% inheritance of Kadaknath breed and 75% inheritance of Jabalpur colour birds. Narmadanidhi has very attractive multicolor plumage pattern and strong body conformation and move fast in free range.