Development of animal feed from Azolla microphylla to increase production efficiency of goat farms in South of Thailand.

Background: Meat goat production in Thailand, particularly among smallholder farmers, is a sustainable enterprise with significant growth potential due to increasing livestock farming. However, the reliance on high-cost imported feed ingredients, such as soybean meal, poses economic challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Azolla microphylla as a cost-effective alternative protein source in goat diets, potentially replacing soybean meal to improve production efficiency. Conducted at Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, the experiment involved 25 healthy crossbred Boer goats assigned to five treatment groups with varying levels of Azolla (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% replacing soybean meal) in a completely randomized design. Over 90 days, data on feed intake, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation characteristics were collected.

Results: Results indicated a significant decrease in crude protein and nutrient digestibility with increased Azolla inclusion, particularly at higher replacement levels, while overall dry matter intake remained stable. Although ruminal pH and temperature were unaffected, ammonia nitrogen levels decreased, suggesting altered protein metabolism. Additionally, total volatile fatty acid concentrations peaked at the 25% Azolla level, indicating optimal fermentation efficiency.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Azolla microphylla can effectively replace up to 50% of soybean meal in goat diets, offering a sustainable strategy to reduce production costs and enhance the efficiency of meat goat farming in southern Thailand. Further research is needed to optimize dietary formulations and improve the nutritional profile of Azolla to maximize its potential as an alternative feed ingredient.