AZOLLA MEAL FOR LAYERS AND BROILERS

Although most people think of Azolla as fertilizer, one way of beating the high cost of
feeds for farm animals is by supplementing the animals' regular diets with Azolla. Drying,
ensiling and other feed treatments using fresh Azolla are simple and effective ways to
ensure that optimum benefits can be obtained from Azolla by farm animals.

AZOLLA MEAL FOR LAYERS AND BROILERS

Materials needed:
Freshly harvested azolla
Commercial layer or broiler rations
Trays with slits or perforated bottoms for drying Azolla
Commercial grinder (gilingan) for grinding Azolla into powder or feed bag for holding
Azolla during manual crushing
Empty motor oil can (1 liter) for measuring the ingredients.

Materials needed
1

PROCEDURE:
1. Harvest Azolla from the propagation pond. Wash thoroughly to remove soil and
other residues. Do not use Azolla which has been exposed to pesticides.
2. Place the Azolla on trays and sundry it for 3-7 days or until it-turns brown. Azolla is
sufficiently dry when it crumbles when squeezed.
3. Grind the dried Azolla to form a powder resembling coffee. If no grinder is available,
place the dried Azolla in a feed bag and step on it until it is crushed.
4. Combine the Azolla meal with commercial layer or broiler rations at a ratio of 1:9.

Note: For growing native and upgraded chickens like Cantonese, Azolla meal can be given as
a supplement to ordinary low-cost feeds.
SOURCE: UPLB, National Azolla Action Program