TITLE:
Partial Substitution of Soybean Meal with Azolla pinnata L. (1758) Meal in Diets for F3 Australorp Chicks during the Growth Phase in Kisangani, DRC
AUTHORS:
Floribert Ndrodza, Pascal Ugen, Nathalie Ngalya, Jean-Claude Mamputu, Joël Osombause, Albert Okungo, Dieudonné Katunga
KEYWORDS:
Substitution, Soybean, Azolla pinnata, Australorp, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
25,
2026
ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to determine the growth rate and feed conversion ratio of F3 hybrid chickens of the Black Australorp breed during the growth stage and to assess the effect of partial substitution of soybean meal with Azolla pinnata meal at this stage. The experiment was conducted at PK 7 on the former Buta Road, Avenue Forescom, Bloc Motumbe, Plateau Boyoma district, Makiso commune, Kisangani city, DR Congo, located at 0?33'44.76492"N and 25?13'27.23628"E, at an altitude of 395.9 m. The growing birds (F3 hybrid Black Australorp) were used in a completely randomized experimental design with four treatments (T0 or control group, T1, T2, and T3). Azolla pinnata meal partially replaced soybean meal at replacement levels corresponding to 5% (T1), 10% (T2), and 15% (T3) of the soybean meal fraction in the experimental diets. After a 14-week experimental period, average feed intake was highest in T1 (10790.5 ± 7937.6 g) and lowest in T2 (9060.7 ± 7572.4 g). Mean body weight was greatest in T1 (1049.7 ± 742.1 g), followed by T0 (1012.2 ± 727.8 g), T2 (1003.4 ± 711.5 g), and T3 (987.2 ± 702.8 g). The highest feed conversion ratio was observed in T0 (9.9 ± 2.82), followed by T1 (9.80 ± 2.79) and T2 (7.91 ± 2.29). The inclusion of Azolla pinnata meal in the diet of Black Australorp chickens did not cause any depressive effect on zootechnical performance compared with roasted soybean meal. Azolla pinnata meal can be used in poultry diets as a substitute for soybean meal up to 10% during the growth stage studied in this trial. Its effects during the laying stage and on egg production were not evaluated in the present study.