A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth of Chicks

A Research Presented to the Faculty of the

Junior High School Department

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In the Special Science Curriculum

Submitted by:

Abaya, Mardhilyn V.

Adriatico, Ephraim R.

Bielza, Precious Sarah A.

Maruko, Junichiro Jr. L.

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 Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Nowadays, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) has been

introduced as a substitute feed ingredient in the broiler

poultry feed ratio. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata), a

floating fern, may be used as an unconventional high-

potential feed supply. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is a

little aquatic fern that floats on the surface of the water.

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and nitrogen-fixing blue-

green algae form a symbiotic interaction. In exchange for

fixed ambient nitrogen and perhaps other growth-promoting

compounds, the fern gives nutrients and a protective cavity

in each leaf to Anabaena colonies (Kumar 2017). Due to the

presence of metaphoric algae in the leaves, Anabaena-azollae

is a potential feed ingredient for broilers (Joysowal et

al., 2018). Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is high in

protein (25-30%). It also contains minerals, chlorophyll,

carotenoids, amino acids, and vitamins. It is also a

possible nitrogen source and animal feed additive (Kumar,

2018) and also a potential feed ingredient for livestock.

Poultry farming became one of the most profitable businesses

of agriculture which provided people with employment

2
opportunities, especially a lot of people lost their jobs

during the pandemic but unfortunately, they are encountering

some difficulties. The two major issues are the higher price

and the lack of availability of feed ingredients for

commercial poultry growth are priced. The feed cost incurred

is approximately 60-65% of the total cost of poultry

production and the cost incurred is approximately 13% of the

total feed cost of poultry production (Hafez, 2020; Attia,

2020). The availability of high-quality feed at a reasonable

price is critical to the success of a poultry operation. To

remain competitive in the market, it would be prudent to use

unconventional feed to diet formulation to reduce poultry

production costs.

Feeds continue to be a major challenge, accounting for

up to 60-65% of total production costs, particularly in Sub-

Saharan Africa, where the price of conventional feed

resources is constantly increasing (Seyoum et al., 2018).

Although cereal grains and legumes are both grown locally,

they are both staple foods for humans. In Ethiopia, the

price of feed ingredients has increased by an average of 52%

over the last five years, with an annual increase of 11%.

(Seyoum et. al, 2018). In the Philippines, the growth of

chicken meat output is slowing, poultry producers are facing

3
competition from so-called dumped imports, and some

facilities have been forced to close (Linden, 2019).

In addition, a diet consisting entirely of commercial

feeds when fed indefinitely to laying chickens would result

in increased energy consumption, which in turn promotes the

excessive formation of belly fat, subjecting the hens to

heat stress. If chickens are bred only with commercial

feeds, they will become obese and have temperature

discomfort, as well as a high prevalence of lameness and a

high mortality rate from skeletal problems (Simeneh, 2019).

Commercial chicks fed with commercial feeds would cost

approximately 60-65% of the total cost of poultry production

and cost incurred approximately 13% of the total feed cost

of poultry production (Aviagen, 2007).

As a result, looking for non-conventional feed ingredients

like Mosquito Fern (Azolla Pinnata) will be beneficial. The

incorporation of the fern as an alternative protein

ingredient in poultry ration could make poultry production

economical. Determining the effectiveness of Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) to the growth of Commercial Chicks will

contribute not only to the economy but also to the Poultry

Farmers.

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 It is necessary to conduct this study to find out whether

there is a significant difference between Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and commercial feeds in the growth

performance of chicks.

The main objective of this study is to formulate the

poultry feed utilizing locally available ingredients such as

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and to lower the cost of

poultry feeding. This study will help to emphasize the

effectiveness of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) in the

growth performance of chicks since these poultry feeds can

be used to make chicks healthy and nourished.

Conceptual Framework

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) in dried form is

unpalatable to birds, and hence the use of fresh biomass

produces an excellent chicken feed with no adverse effects;

around 20%–25% of commercial feed can be substituted with

fresh Azolla biomass. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata), a

water fern, is an uncommon feed item. Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is a freshwater fern of the Azollaceae family and

the order Pteridophyta. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) has

six species. Tropicales and subtropics have the most.

Waterlogged areas such as drains, canals, wetlands, and

marshy areas support its growth. Anabaena-azollae, which

5
dwells in the hollow of Azolla leaves, may fix a substantial

quantity of atmospheric dinitrogen. Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) might be utilized as a broiler feed component

(Singh and Subudhi, 2010). Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is

rich in protein, having a 25-30% total protein content. It

contains minerals, chlorophyll, carotenoids, amino acids,

vitamins, and minerals. It might potentially be used as a

livestock feed additive. The inclusion of aquatic plants in

chicken diets at modest levels increased performance,

especially when they contributed part of the total protein

or provided color for egg and broiler skin. Mosquito Fern

(Azolla Pinnata) has various nutrients that are capable of

contributing to the productivity and cultivation of

commercial chicks. It contains 25-30% Protein Content, 10-

15% Mineral content, 1000-8600 ppm Iron content, 3-210 ppm

Copper content, 120-2700 ppm Manganese, and 300-600 ppm

Vitamin A Content (Bujak, n.d.). These nutrients are vital

to them as it improves their production in adapting to

different environments, egg production, immunity, and other

aspects of biological functions.

There are many theories regarding where Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) was first discovered and used, but the

consensus is that it was used as a biofertilizer 1500 years

6
ago by Vietnamese Rice Farmers. These farmers used the

Azolla pinnata’s ability to draw down nitrogen from the

atmosphere, which then bio-fertilized the growing rice

plants. As time go by, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) became

widespread among Vietnamese Farmers and they even travel to

villages each year just to purchase Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) for the sake of their rice fields. And the

cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) had been

established in half a million hectares in Vietnam,

especially in the Northern Part of the country (Bujak,

n.d.). As mentioned above, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

has been rampant among farmers that further added success in

the study because Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) may be used

in dealing with aspects of agriculture such as Poultry

Farming.

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata), which was thought to be

a green manure, had invaded freshwater bodies of the

northern governorates of the Nile Delta, the longest river

in the world, in Sudan. The fern continued to flow and

spread in the waters of the river to the point that it

became widespread in the most stagnant water bodies of the

Nile Delta. In drainage canals, a thick mat forms wherein 2-

5 kg of fresh Azolla can be collected up from the water

7
surface and farmers get these Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and use them for such purposes (Ahmedi et al.,

2021). As mentioned above, Mosquito Fern (Azolla Pinnata)

had invaded the waters of the Nile River meaning Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) can be found in rivers or any fresh

bodies of water that further added success in the study

because it shows that Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) can be

easily found by the researchers considering that there are

bodies of freshwater within the geographical scope of the

study.

In China, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) was sighted

floating along the Yangtze River in communities where

domesticated pigs and water buffaloes are rampant. It became

a tradition for farmers in some parts of China to use it as

fresh fodder for foraging fish in lakes/ponds as well as for

poultry and pigs that’s why a system called Pig-Poultry-

Fish-Azolla Production System was practiced in the

communities near the river (Paul, et al. 2019). As mentioned

above, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) was used as a fresh

feed to be eaten by fish, poultry, and pigs that further

added success in the study because Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is seen as edible for poultry such as chicks that

8
will help their productivity and growth to make them

healthier and more nourished.

Research Paradigm

INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT EXPECTED

VARIABLE VARIABLE OUTCOME

Control Group Growth The Effects of

Performance of Mosquito Fern
 Commercial the Commercial (Azolla Pinnata)
Feeds Chicks: in comparison in
commercial feed
based from the
Experimental Group  Weight Gain growth
 Food performance of
 Azolla Pinnata Consumption the chicks

This study makes use of the analysis between

Independent Variables and Dependent Variables.

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 The first box contains the independent variables. The

independent variables of the study are divided into two

groups, which are the Control Group and the Experimental

Group. The control group in the independent variables

consists of the Commercial Feeds while the experimental

group in the independent variables consists of Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata).

The second box contains the dependent variables. The

dependent variable of the study is the growth performance of

the chicks, specifically, the weight gain and food

consumption of the chicks when supplemented by the

independent variables.

The independent variables will be supplemented to the

dependent variables to see the outcome of the study. The

expected outcome of the study is the Effects of Mosquito

Fern (Azolla Pinnata) in comparison to commercial feed based

on the growth performance of the chicks.

Statement of the Problem

This research entitled, “A Comparative Study on the

Effectiveness of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds to the Growth of Chicks” is to be conducted

to compare the effectiveness of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

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pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the growth of chicks.

Specifically, this research sought to answer the following:

1. What is the growth performance of chicks that will be

supplemented by mosquito fern (Azolla pinnata) in

comparison with commercial feeds in terms of:

a. Average Initial Weight (Week 1)

b. Average Initial Weight (Week 2)

c. Average Initial Weight (Week 3)

d. Average Initial Weight (Week 4)

e. Average Initial Weight (Week 5)

f. Average Initial Weight (Week 6)

g. Average Final Weight

2. What is the amount of the food consumption of the chicks

that will be supplemented by Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) in comparison with commercial feeds in terms

of:

a. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 1)

b. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 2)

c. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 3)

d. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 4)

e. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 5)

f. Average Initial Food Consumption (Week 6)

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 g. Average Final Food Consumption

3. What treatment is effective to the growth of chicks in

terms of:

a. Body Weight

b. Food Consumption

4. Is there a significant difference between Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds in the Growth

Performance of Chicks?

Hypothesis of the Study

There is no significant difference between Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth

Performance of Chicks.

Significance of the Study

This study helps to emphasize if there is a difference

in the effectiveness between Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

and Commercial Feeds to the growth performance of chicks.

The researchers came up with this idea to help poultry

farmers to find alternatives to poultry feeds and to help

allow consumers to save money. It shows that Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) could be beneficial in different aspects

despite being uncommon. The findings of the study will

benefit the following:

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 Poultry Farmers. Since poultry farmers want fewer

expenses when purchasing poultry feeds, they may optimize

the inclusion of mosquito fern in their poultry as it allows

their poultry to be healthier and nourished. It will also

help their income to get higher as consumers are more

engaged in purchasing well-thrived poultry.

Pond Owners. They will be benefited because they could

use the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) within their ponds to

earn a profit by selling it to the Poultry Farmers who need

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) for their poultry.

Consumers. They will be more satisfied with poultry

products that are richer in quality since they are more

engaged in purchasing poultry products that are in excellent

quality considering that it is more nutritious and better

for their health. This will also help them to save money

because poultry products are the cheapest among other

varieties of meat products.

Researchers. This will help them to have broader

knowledge regarding poultry farming and different aspects of

agriculture. They can also contribute information and

knowledge regarding the aspects invaded in this research to

other people.

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 Future Researchers. With this study, future researchers

can have a broad knowledge in hope that they can improve

this study in a much better way. This may also serve as

their reference in any related study that will be conducted.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study aims to determine whether there is a

significant difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and commercial feeds to the growth performance of

chicks that will be supplemented by Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and commercial feeds based from weight gain. This

study is only limited in assessing the effectiveness of

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the

growth of chicks based from its components. Two treatments

were used in conducting the study. Test 1 with Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) tested into 4 chicks while test 2 with

commercial feeds and being tested into 4 chicks. The chicks

were fed for a month and a half. The study's independent

variables are divided into two groups: the Control Group and

the Experimental Group. The Experimental Group contains T1-

20 grams rice bran + 20 grams Azolla, T2- 40 grams rice bran

+ 40 grams Azolla, T3-60 grams rice bran+ 60 grams Azolla,

T4- 80 grams rice bran + 80 grams Azolla, T5- 100 grams rice

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bran + 100 grams Azolla and T6- 120 grams rice bran + 120

grams Azolla. The Control Group contains T1- 40 grams

Commercial feeds, T2- 80 grams Commercial Feeds, T3 - 120

grams Commercial Feeds, T4- 160 grams Commercial Feeds, T5-

200 grams Commercial Feeds and T6- 240 grams Commercial

Feeds. The commercial Feeds serve as the control group in

the independent variables, whereas Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) serves as independent variable in the experimental

group. The dependent variable in this study is the chicks'

growth performance, namely their weight gain and food

consumption when the independent variables are added. The

independent variables was supplemented to the dependent

variables to determine the study's outcome. In the

experimental group, the researchers used pure Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) with the inclusion of rice bran, and for

the control group, pure commercial feeds are going was used

in conducting the experimental procedure.

This study is delimited in comparing the growth

performance of chicks that was supplemented by Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and commercial feeds based from weight gain

and was evaluated particularly in Barangay Villa Domingo,

Angadanan, Isabela during the School Year 2021-2022. The

study started in the midst of October to May 2022, and the

experimentation process happened from February 2022 to March

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2022. The researchers prepared an amount of three thousand

five hundred pesos for the fund in conducting the

experimental procedure.

Definition of Terms

Chicks. Chicks are baby birds, particularly one that

has recently hatched. This is the main target that consumed

the Mosquito fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds and

benefit from their nutrient contents.

Comparative. Comparative refers to a comparison between

two or more subjects of the study. This term was used to

make a distinction in the chicks’ development.

Commercial Feeds. Commercial Feeds are comprised mostly

of cereal grains and by-products such as beet pulp and also

help to increase the protein quality and quantity. This was

fed to the chicks prior to the experimentation.

Control Group. Control Group is the group of chicks

that was supplemented with Commercial Feeds.

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 Experimental Group. Experimental Group is the group of

chicks that was supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata).

Final Food Consumption. Final Food Consumption is the

final quantity of the food that were consumed by the chicks

after the experimentation.

Final Weight. Final Weight is the final mass of the

chick after the experimental study. This would observe the

weight of the chicks, and data extraction was applied.

Food Consumption. Food Consumption is the process of

taking food into the body through the mouth. This term was

applied to the study where the researchers fed the chicks.

Growth performance. Growth Performance is a process

where it will show the performance and the general growth of

the chick. This term is was observed to the chicks during

the experimental process.

Initial Food Consumption. Initial Food Consumption is

the mass of the food consumed by the chicks per week

throughout the study.

Initial Weight. Initial Weight is the quantity of the

chick per week throughout the study.

17
 Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata). Mosquito Fern (Azoll

pinnata) is a genus of seven species of aquatic ferns in the

family Salviniaceae as the main center of the study. This

was given to the chicks to be consumed.

Rice Bran. Rice Bran is the supporting element of the

feed of the Experimental Group that was mixed to Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata)

Weight Gain. Weight Gain is the increase of body mass

and fat deposits. This term was used to know if the feeds

fed to the chicks are effective.

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 Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

In this chapter, related literature and studies in both

foreign and local are presented. It also contains

information and different variables that are related to the

study.

Foreign Literature

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is a strong source of

protein and includes almost all necessary amino acids,

minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium,

phosphorus, and manganese, among others, with the exception

of significant amounts of beta-carotene, a precursor to

vitamin A, and vitamin B12. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

was grown, picked, and dried in the sun. It was tested in

sun-dried azolla sample for proximal principles. Sun dried

azolla meal had 89.73 percent dry matter (DM). It was 75.73

percent organic matter, 23.49 percent crude protein, 14.7%

crude fiber, 3.7 percent ether extract, 24.26 percent total

19
ash, 7.94 percent acid insoluble ash, 2.58 percent calcium,

and 0.26 percent phosphorus (Cherryl, 2014).

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is a floating aquatic

fern, found on the surface of small, still ponds or

backwaters without wave action, at low to middle altitudes.

It becomes especially abundant in water with high nutrient

levels, such as ponds in cattle paddocks and farm ponds,

where it can completely cover the water surface. It has the

ability to survive on moist soil in and around rivers,

ditches, and ponds which may allow the plant to survive low

water levels and periods of drought. In New Guinea the

altitudinal distribution falls into two disjunct ranges:

lowland populations at 3-60 m altitude; and highland

populations at 1000-3000 m altitude. However, there is no

obvious difference between plants from the highlands and

those from the lowlands (Croft, 2021). This context

indicates the features of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) in

New Guinea wherein these plants cultivate in both highlands

and lowlands of the country, however, it didn’t become a

factor that will make the cultivation of the plant different

from the ones in the highlands and from those in the

lowlands.

20
 Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) has been used for

centuries in Southeast Asia as a fertilizer in rice

production. The rice benefits from the fern’s symbiotic

relationship with the cyanobacteria Anabaena azollae, which

fixes nitrogen and grows in a cavity in the dorsal lobe of

the fern's leaves. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) dies in

the summer heat and the decaying plants release nitrogen

into the soil. This fern is also considered a weed, however.

It can quickly spread to cover open areas of water. It forms

dense surface mats that impede water flow and navigation,

and clog irrigation pumps. The mats also reduce oxygen

levels and the light available to other aquatic organisms

(Scher et al., 2015). This text talks about Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) being rampant in Southeast Asian

territories. It is used as a fertilizer in rice production

when the plant decays due to summer heat and it clogs

irrigation pumps when these plants form dense surface mats

which then affect the flow of water.

In India, the poultry industry has been growing at a

high rate and is still expected to hike over the next

decade. Reports state that India’s poultry industry

contributes approximately 16,799,613,124 Indian rupees

towards the gross national product, and it is noticed that

21
it is on a steady rise by the year. Furthermore, India

stands as the 5th biggest eggs producer and 9th biggest

poultry meat producer. According to the market research

conducted on the poultry business in India, reports state

that the rate at which eggs are consumed has risen at a

much-accelerated speed, in comparison to the poultry meat

consumption. Additionally, the purchasing power capacity

among consumers is continuously growing, and therefore, the

rate of consumption is expected to increase thrice during

2021. It can be safely stated that the poultry business in

India has an enormous and positive impact on the economy and

is expected to improve with time (Pokharna, 2021). This

shows that poultry farming has an enormous contribution to

the economy of a certain country considering that many

consumers are engaged in purchasing chicken meat. That said,

many people will be encouraged to start poultry businesses

because of such factors such as it is profitable, and

contributes to the economy of a country. And through

starting poultry farming, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

will also evolve considering that it is a cheap poultry feed

that can be used to be supplemented by chicks.

The chicken industry in the United States is one of

22
the most successful sectors in agriculture. In a little over

50 years, the U.S. broiler industry has evolved from

fragmented, locally oriented businesses into a highly

efficient, vertically integrated, progressive success story

increasingly supplying customers nationwide and around the

globe. The modern chicken industry produces nutritious,

wholesome, high-quality products that became more affordable

year after year. Much of the success of the industry can be

attributed to a more efficient structural organization,

improved production, and processing technologies, and

continuing responsiveness to consumer demands. In the 1800s

to early 1900s, early poultry production consisted of many

households having backyard flocks of dual-purpose chickens.

These chickens supplied eggs and an occasional chicken for

Sunday or holiday dinner. By the turn of the century, a few

entrepreneurs began selling young chickens during the summer

for meat as a sideline activity on their family farms. Year-

round production was limited because vitamin D had not yet

been discovered and the importance of the photoperiod (cycle

of sunlight and darkness) and its impact on production was

not understood. By the 1920s-1930s, Chicken meat production,

previously a subsidiary of the egg industry, began with the

development of the broiler – a chicken raised specifically

for its meat. Broiler production was initiated in locations

23
such as the Delmarva Peninsula, Georgia, Arkansas, and New

England. Factors in the geographic expansion of the industry

were favorable weather conditions, adequate land and water,

and access to supplies of corn and soybeans, which are the

major components of poultry feed. Mrs. Wilmer Steele of

Sussex County, Delaware, is often cited as the pioneer of

the commercial broiler industry. In 1923, she raised a flock

of 500 chicks intended to be sold for meat. Her little

business was so profitable that, by 1926, Mrs. Steele was

able to build a broiler house with a capacity of 10,000

birds. Then by 1952, the commercial broiler industry began

its economic boom to the point that it surpassed farm

chickens as the number one source of chicken meat in the

United States. Driven by industry advancements, the broiler

produced today is meatier, more affordable to the consumer,

and more wholesome. The industry employs the most advanced

scientific technology available and is constantly seeking

new methods to ensure wholesomeness and enhance quality for

the consumer (Brown, 2011). This paragraph states the things

that the boiler industries encountered before being one of

the most successful sectors of agriculture in the United

States. It started with households having backyard flocks in

their respective places, to selling young chicks, to

developing broilers to the point that it became profitable

24
and it eventually continued today making it one of the most

successful agricultural sectors in the United States

providing healthier, more nourished, and more affordable

chicken meat for consumers. And if chickens would be

supplemented by Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata), then the

chicken meats that will be produced will eventually improve

and produce better quality chicken meats.

The United States has a robust poultry industry, with

an

inventory of over 518 million chickens and over 229 million

turkeys. In 2019, chicken production rose to around 44

billion pounds. For the last decade, the United States

shipped about six or seven billion pounds of broiler exports

each year. Broiler refers to chickens of meat-type strains

raised specifically for meat production. The United States

exports significantly more broilers than it imports.

Consumers purchase a large amount of meat products, chicken

was the second most frequently bought fresh meat category,

with sales of 13.4 billion U.S. dollars. Chicken breasts

were the most popular cut, comprising over 60 percent of

product sales. Chicken sales growth in the U.S. were

positive by 12.4 percent for 2020, the reason for the growth

is because American Consumers believe that chicken is the

most healthiest meat among other varieties (Shahbandeh,

25
2021). This indicates how poultry industry is evolving and

rampant in the United States considering that it is a choice

for many people to purchase this meat because of the

nutritive value that it can give to humanity. With its

growth, poultry farming would also evolve including Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) considering that poultry farmers want

cheap poultry feeds for their poultry.

Chicken is a popular meat in Vietnam and egg

consumption

is substantial as well. In any hotel in Vietnam at breakfast

time, there is always a queue of guests waiting for a

freshly cooked omelet. Fast-food chains have sprung up all

over the country with chicken being a popular choice.

Vietnam has several large trade fairs such as Ildex and

Vietstock with row upon row of company booths selling

products connected with the poultry industry, which give an

indication of the importance of this livestock sector to the

Vietnamese economy. Chicken consumption stood at 8kg per

head in 2015 and this figure is expected to more than double

by 2021. Total production of chicken and eggs increased by

6% in 2017 versus 2016. This was split between one million

tons of meat and more than 10 billion eggs. This increase in

production reflects the fact that the Vietnamese population

is rising, as are the nation’s living standards. Other

26
factors fueling this increase in consumption of poultry

products are increasing urbanization and the desire for a

healthier lifestyle (Brockotter, 2018). This context

indicates how chicken is rampant in Vietnam and how it

became part of their living standards that made the

production and cultivation of the poultry high compared to

other years. With the increase of the cultivation of

chicken, poultry farming would also boom that would also

allow Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) to be rampant because

it is a cheap poultry feed that could be used for the

chicks.

Synthesis

These cited foreign literatures validated the efficacy

and usefulness of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) not only to

the growth of commercial chicks but also to other

agricultural purposes. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) was

pointed out as a high source of protein including almost all

nutrients prerequisite for the growth of chicks. In New

Guinea, (Croft, 2021) made a valid point about plants being

cultivated in both highlands and lowlands of the country, in

which it didn’t become a factor that will make the

cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) different from

the ones in the highlands and from those in the lowlands.

27
For centuries in Southeast Asia, the usefulness of Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) was also shown as it was used as a

fertilizer in rice production. According to the current

report from India’s poultry industry it was stated that

approximately 16,799,613,124 Indian rupees was contributed

towards the gross national product. Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is one of the main reasons why there is a steady

rise by the year considering that it is a cheap poultry feed

that can be supplemented by chicks. In the countries of

United States and Vietnam, it was shown that there was a

high chicken production, especially in Vietnam because

chicken is a popular meat and egg consumption is substantial

as well therefore it would also allow Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) to be rampant because it is a cheap poultry feed

that could be used for the chicks. As a result, these

connected studies cited and supported the Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata)’s efficacy in promoting chicken growth.

Local Literature

In the Philippines, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is a

free-floating water fern consisting of a short, branched,

floating stem, bearing roots that hang down in the water. It

has many nutrient benefits compared to other fodders. Apart

from this, it has the nature of fixing nitrogen in rice crop

28
fields. This is the reason why this plant is used as a

common bio-fertilizer and green manure in rice fields. The

blue-green algae that grow in symbiotic association with

this fern are responsible for nitrogen fixation in rice

crops. It is commonly cultivated in ponds, ditches, and rice

fields of warm-temperate and tropical regions. It is an

excellent alternate feed supplement for livestock, poultry,

and fish. In terms of the nutritive benefits, Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) possesses high protein content, amino

acids, vitamins, and minerals (like magnesium, calcium,

phosphorus, and potassium). Furthermore, Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) is a highly productive plant and it doubles

its biomass in a 4-10 day period depending on the condition,

and yield can reach 8-12 tons (Allen, 2021). This text talks

about several features of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) in

the Philippines such as its uses, purposes, usual settings

of cultivation, alternate feed for livestock, poultry, and

fish, and the nutritive values and benefits of the plant.

According to (Carruthers, 2021), Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) in the Philippines can be grown or found in

ditches, ponds, and wetlands of warm temperate and tropical

regions. This plant prefers shade and requires light (30 to

50% light required for its growth) for photosynthesis. It is

29
a water-based crop, then sufficient water for its

cultivation must be ensured. Also, it is recommended for

this plant to have 5 inches of water in its habitat for

proper growth. Additionally, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

grows well where the optimum/ideal temperature range is 20

degrees to 35 degrees, higher temperature will affect the

mutation of the plant. For better yield and quality of

Mosquito Fern (Azolla Pinnata), it requires a water pH value

of 5.0 to 7.0 and relative humidity of 80 to 90%. Too much

acidic conditions or alkalinity has a negative impact on the

growth of the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata). When it comes

to the requirement of nutrients, Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) absorbs the nutrients from water and phosphorus is

the most important element. Usually, 20 to 25 ppm of

phosphorus in the water is optimum. Furthermore, it is also

essential to apply micro-nutrients which can improve the

multiplication and growth of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata).

This specifies the prerequisite and important factors to

consider in the cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) to ensure that the nutritive values within the

plant will be kept prior to the feeding of the plant to the

poultry, on the other hand, when the indicated requirements

were failed to meet, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) will not

be effective when fed to chicks. I

30
 In an article written by Arcuri (2021), the type of

commercial feed that should be supplemented to chicks are

based on two factors, their age and their type. Chick

starter is for the first (usually six) weeks of the chicks'

lives. This is typically 22 to 24 percent protein for meat

birds (called broiler starter) and 20 percent protein for

laying breeds. Most people use a medicated feed, but organic

and pastured small farms often use unmedicated feed. After

chick starter, young pullets that are destined for a laying

flock are put on a lower-protein diet to slow growth to

allow strong bones and adult body weight before laying

begins. If the protein is too high, development happens

quickly and the birds lay too early. Grower pullet rations

typically have 18 percent protein and are fed until the

chicks are 14 weeks of age. Puller developer is fed to

chicks at 14 weeks. Young pullets can be lowered to a 16

percent protein feed until they begin laying. Some feedlines

don't distinguish between this stage and the grower stage

and just have a grower-finisher that is somewhere in the

middle protein-wise. Layer rations are used on laying hens

at maturity (around 22 weeks of age) require a 16 to 18

percent protein level and extra calcium and minerals for

strong eggshells. Feeding layer rations to birds younger

than this age as it damages their kidneys due to the high

31
amounts of calcium and phosphorus. However, roosters can eat

laying rations. Broiler rations, high-protein feeds are for

meat birds, particularly Cornish X Rock crosses that grow

extremely fast. Broiler rations are typically 18 to 20

percent protein. This is sometimes called the "grower-

finisher" feed. For heritage and pastured meat birds,

protein content can be lowered to 16 percent after 12 weeks

of age until butchering. Some may choose to keep the

heritage meat birds on the higher grower-finisher rations

until slaughter. This context shows the ability of varied

types of commercial feeds to support the growth of the

chicks which makes it valid to compare it to Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata).

Rice Bran is the edible broken seed coat, or protective

outer layer, of wheat, rye, or other cereal grains,

separated from the kernel. Rice Bran contains 373 calories

of crude with 118 grams per serving. This serving contains

25 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein, and 59 grams of

carbohydrates. The latter is 1.1 g sugar and 25 g of dietary

fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrates. Rice bran crude

contains 4.9 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per

serving. 118 g of Rice bran, crude contains IU vitamin A,

0.0 mg of vitamin C and 0.00 mcg of vitamin D as well as

32
21.88 mg of iron, 67.26 mg of calcium and 1752 mg of

potassium (Bell, n.d). This context shows the nutritive

contents of Rice Bran, which then shows that it could be a

supporting element of the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

because their nutritive values are akin.

According to Dames (2018), 2-week old chicks prefer

eating fresh/natural types of fodder than of manufactured

feeds because chicks are more used to in natural environment

considering that they are omnivore in nature. Akin to 3-week

old chicks, they also prefer eating fresh/natural feeds

because chicks are still in the 'phase of transition' is

being used to in another feed option they haven't tried

since hatched. This context indicates that chicks are more

used to eating fresh types of poultry feeds which is an

advantage for the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) considering

that it is fresh.

In tradition, pork serves as the top source for the

majority of Filipinos as the primary protein source in their

diet, however, it was overtaken by chicken for the first

time in terms of per capita consumption. From 2009-2018,

there is 40% increase in demand for dressed chicken – from 1

Million MT to 1.4 Million MT. Additionally, there is also a

4% increase in chicken egg output in the year 2020 compared

33
to the recent years - from 583.234 MT to 605.78 MT. Further,

the country’s chicken layer population expanded by 4.19% -

from 41.202 million birds to 42.928 million. The aggregate

chicken demand in the Philippines is fostering due to the

reasons of the continuous increase in the demand for chicken

meat due to population increase and rising income, the

establishment of new commercial farms and dressing plants,

the growing use of contract farming, improvement in

infrastructures in terms of ventilated housing and stocking

capacities, and adequate supply of day-old chicks. With the

rise in the demand for chicken in the Philippines, processed

meat products from this country are already exported to

other countries such as Japan. It is a big boost for the

poultry producers, food manufacturers, meat processors, and

exporters in the Philippines as it offers market

opportunities to jumpstart the country’s economic recovery

amid the pandemic (Lacap, 2021). This indicates that

starting up businesses invading poultry will boost the

demand for poultry in the country that will further

contribute to the recovery of the economy in the Philippines

considering that the COVID-19 Pandemic had dropped the

Philippine economy and it will also boost the production of

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata).

34
 In the Philippines, poultry farming is a profitable

source of a business venture. It is certainly possible to

earn a livable wage even when people started in a small and

simple way. Furthermore, it is profitable because the cost

of starting this kind of business is not expensive, yet it

will also catch the eye of the public considering that many

consumers are engaged in buying poultry products. Through

poultry farming, poultry entrepreneurs will be able to

surpass the minimum wage salary in the Philippines and even

the average wage of an accountant in the Philippines when

the poultry business evolves (Cole, 2021). In this context,

it was revealed that poultry farming is moneymaking and

advantageous commerce that will then contribute to engaging

people to start businesses invading poultry, which will help

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) rampant considering that it

will help the passionate poultry farmers in starting their

poultry businesses because it is a cheap poultry feed yet

filled with numerous nutritional values that they can use in

feeding their chicks.

In an article written by Sewell (n.d.), for many

Filipinos who are mindful of their health and the ethical

concerns surrounding “factory” farming by some of the big

integrators such as San Miguel and Magnolia, organic

35
chickens that are grown in a small-scale environment with

tender loving care and lots of space are now a natural

choice. That said, raising organic chicken is not just a

matter of health and ethical concerns. Chickens that are

grown in an environment where they are allowed as much room

as possible to express their natural behaviors, move about,

and forage on the grass, bugs, and grubs tend to develop

more muscles over fat. Generally, they are even more

delicious, flavorful, and also more nutritious than the

normal poultry that people eat. Countless studies have shown

that chickens grown in this manner contain 30% or more of

the essential nutrients that make the health of people

healthier and nourished. This shows that organic chickens

could also be an option for other consumers, especially the

ones that are bothered with their health and lifestyle

because organic chickens are grown in an environment wherein

they are free to move, and eat natural forage that surrounds

them, which is a factor that contributes in making the

organic chickens healthier and nourished than the usual

chickens that consumers purchases and consumes. And imagine

if these organic chickens are supplemented with feeds that

have high nutritive values such as Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata), then these organic chickens will be healthier

considering that they are supplemented with feeds that give

36
numerous advantages to the health of not just the organic

chickens but also the people that consume organic chicken

meat.

The birds have finally domesticated around 4000 years

ago when four species of jungle fowl were selectively bred

over time. Of these, the Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus)

became the forerunner of the Domestic Chicken (Gallus

domesticus), which has now split into some 350 recognized

breeds. The Philippines, a Southeast Asian archipelago of

7641 islands, is one of the countries where Labuyo or wild

Red Jungle Fowl still thrive. Centuries of crossing these

spirited wild birds with imported breeds have created

several major breeds, with many more in the process of being

genetically purified and internationally recognized. Though

over half of the country’s chickens hail from imported

lineages selected for their superior growth and egg-laying

capabilities, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimated

in April 2019 that native chickens still account for 44% or

82.84 million of the 184.88 million chickens in the country.

Indeed no Filipino farm or backyard is complete without a

makeshift chicken coop, a lively chicken troop searching for

the perfect worm, or fighting cocks awaiting their next

sparring session (Yan, 2020). This text shows how the Red

37
Jungle Fowl, the forerunner of the domesticated chicken

evolved in the Philippines to the point that every Filipino

farms and backyards have different kinds of breeds of the

Red Jungle Fowl.

Banaba, a Filipino chicken breed that originated in

Batangas is a black-breasted red cock with a black beak,

legs and toes. In a country absolutely crazy over fighting

cocks, this breed is renowned as the “Original Filipino

Fighting Bird”. Banaba Roosters register an average wingspan

of 42 centimeters with Banaba Hens being slightly smaller at

37 centimeters. The average mature weight is about 1.49

kilograms for Banaba Roosters and 1.06 to 1.20 kilograms for

Banaba Hens. Banaba Hens are protective and efficient

mothers. Banaba Chickens require protein, amino acids, and

potassium in the poultry feeds that they are supplementing

(Yan, 2020). This text shows one of the common breeds of

chickens in the Philippines which is Banaba and these are

the typical chickens that can be seen in the backyards of

Filipino homes. Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) could be used

as a poultry feed for this breed considering that the said

crop has the prerequisite nutrients that are essential for

the growth of Banaba Chickens.

38
 Another popular chicken breed in the Philippines is

Darag. This chicken breed originates from Panay Island in

the Western Visayas. It is rapidly rising in popularity for

very good reason. The typical plumage for roosters, locally

called Labuyo or Alimbuyog, is a deep red hackle and wings,

plus ebony feathers and a matching black tail, though other

color morphs are seen. Darag Hens have sandy or yellowish-

brown plumage. Darag Cocks weigh an average of 1.3 kilograms

while hens reach about 1.1 kilograms. Known for their

economical feeding habits, Darag chickens are ready for

harvest after around 10 weeks. Traditionally in the region

of origin, this chicken breed is used for cooking Inasals or

barbequed chicken or the more ubiquitous Filipino Tinola or

chicken soup, the breed offers distinctively-lean, smoky and

flavorful meat (Yan, 2020). This indicates a common chicken

breed in the Philippines named Darag, within 10 weeks this

chicken breed is already prior to harvesting. Considering

the fast harvesting of the breed, they should be fed with

poultry feeds like Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) which has

numerous nutritive values and benefits, for the breed to

sustain the essential nutrients they need before they would

be subjected to harvesting.

Synthesis

39
 These cited literature above shows that Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) can be beneficial in numerous aspects such

as its usage as a bio-fertilizer and green manure in rice

crops considering that the blue-algae within Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) has a nature of fixing rice crop fields. A

benefit that can also be seen in Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is its ability to be an alternative feed supplement

to livestock, poultry, and fishes considering the benefits

that it gives such as the high protein content, amino acids,

vitamins, and minerals (like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus,

and potassium) are prerequisite and necessary to the growth

of these animals which will help them to be well-thrived and

healthy for consuming purposes of people. Giving Commercial

Feeds to chickens must be based on two factors, in terms of

their age and in terms of their type. Rice Bran has akin

nutritive values to Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) which

then validates its effectiveness as a supporting element of

the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata). It is also mentioned

that chick are more used to fresh/natural types of poultry

feeds. Further, chicken has been the top primary protein

source of Filipinos that allowing the pork to be overtaken

by the protein source. With the circumstance, poultry

farming has evolved which also allowed Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) to be rampant considering that its usage by

40
people will be dependent on how poultry farming is popular.

Also, organic chicken in the Philippines became an option

for those people who are concerned and conscious about their

health. Furthermore, several breeds of the Red Jungle Fowl,

the forerunner of domesticated chickens became rampant in

the Philippines such as Banaba Chicken and Darag Chickens.

Banaba chicken originated in Batangas requires Protein,

Amino Acids, and Potassium for the betterment of their

growth, which makes Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) suitable

as a feed for this breed considering that the plant has an

enormous amount of the required nutrients of Banaba

Chickens. Darag chicken, which originated in Panay Island is

subjected to harvest when 10 weeks has reached from the day

they were cracked from the egg. With that, it is suitable

for them to be fed by Mosquito Fern (Azolla Pinnata) to

ensure that they have the required nutritive values before

they will be harvest. Thus, these related literatures

validate the ability of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds to the growth performance of the chicks.

Foreign Studies

The feed ingredients are the major deterrent for target

production. Feed is the most expensive of all inputs and

about 70% of production cost is accounted for feed alone.

41
Aquatic plant species, because of their growth habit, appear

not to accumulate secondary plant compounds and therefore

offer a greater potential tree leaves as a source of protein

for monogastric animals (Joysowal et al., 2018). The green

plants have been recognized as the cheapest and most

abundant potential source of proteins because of their

ability to synthesize amino acids from a wide range of

virtually unlimited and readily available primary materials.

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is an aquatic free floating

fern belonging to the family of Salviniaceae. It had been

discovered as significant in improving the physical and

chemical properties of the soil especially nitrogen, organic

matter and other cations such as Magnesium, Calcium, and

Sodium released into soil through an experiment conducted in

Banaras Hindu University in the cultivation of rice

(Bhuvaneshiwari and Kumar, 2012).

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) has a high nitrogen

content and has been used as an environmentally friendly

fertilizer for wetland rice farming due to its ability to

retain significant amounts of nutrients. It is one of the

additional types of fertilizer used in conjunction with

other bio-fertilizers. Correctly grown transplants have an

impact on vegetable production. Transplant quality is highly

dependent on a variety of factors such as lamination,

42
temperatures, carbon dioxide, air humidity, water supply,

fertilizing, substrate, growing techniques, and vegetable

varieties or types (Hanafy and Elaemary, 2019).

It is also used as fish feed ingredient. It is capable

of converting raw protein into the best edible protein

(Youssouf, 2012). As a result, the cost of producing aqua

feed can be reduced by utilizing an environmentally friendly

and sustainable resource (Datta, 2011). Furthermore,

Mithraja et al. (2011) discovered that the crude extract of

A. Pinnata contains a variety of antioxidant-like phyto-

constituents, including tannins, phenolic contents, and

flavonoids.

According to Abdul Aziz (2012), for Azolla production,

full sun is recommended. Low output is observed during the

winter, and it appears to be caused mostly by low humidity,

as well as, to a lesser extent, low light and temperature.

During May to July, the plant's exceptional productivity

appeared to be due to high relative humidity (>80%) and

temperature (>30° C). During this time, pest infestations

can have a significant impact on growth. During February and

March, the fern generated sporangia, suggesting a healthy

development state for its cultivation. It is estimated that

a Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) crop gives about 620 kg

43
N/ha/year, which is beneficial for producing them without

urea-N.

The importance of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) as

sustainable feed for livestock feed and poultry is reviewed

recently (Gouri et al., 2012). According in this review,

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) can be used as livestock

source of feed for sheep, goats, pigs, rabbit and fish. An

experiment was conducted to see how dietary inclusion of

sun-dried and ground Azolla affected broiler chicken

production performance (Kumar,2018). According to the

results of the experiment, feed utilization and, eventually,

production in terms of live body weight gain might be

improved. The introduction of Azolla up to a 7.5 percent

level was found to be extremely beneficial productive and it

may be a lucrative offer for broiler farming, the practice

of raising broilers for the purpose of producing meat.

Aquatic plant species, particularly Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata), have been found to have a high potential as a

source of protein for animals due to their ease of

cultivation, production, and nutritional content (Prabha and

Kumar, 2012). Poultry fed on Azolla show significant

increase in the body weights and consequently have resulted

in an increase in the net return (Rai et al., 2012). As a

result, given the importance of organic aquaculture these

44
days, the usage of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) has been

discovered to be one of the most cost-effective strategies

to improve fish production in organic poultry farming.

One of the most significant components of poultry

husbandry is the production of eggs. Commercial layers and

broilers are used in agriculture. A significant contribution

to meeting the upward trend the growing population's demand

for protein by the consumption of eggs and meats the

addition of some Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and other important

elements Manganese (Mn) in chicken diets is extremely

important (Suleiman et al., 2015) . A study was conducted to

compare the growth performance of broiler chickens fed three

different on-farm feeds and three different commercial feeds

(Afolayan et al., 2009). According to the findings of this

study, the extensive use of on-farm feeds by poultry

producers can be justified based on cost effectiveness and

profitability factors. Enzyme technological advancements

have resulted in benefits (Chuka, 2014). It provides

services to the pig and poultry businesses for almost ten

years. By incorporating the bulk of difficulties generally

connected with enzymes to feed ratios based on cereals can

be reduced. The combined and individual effects of a

probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and a commercial enzyme

45
were studied in this study. Nutrition and diseases, on the

other hand, have had an impact.

The key limiting variables in poultry production have

been recognized. The cost of feed alone accounts for 70-80%

of the overall cost of living in Nigeria. Nworgu, a city in

Nigeria, previously said that the high cost of feed is a big

issue for Nigerian poultry producers, as it accounts for a

significant portion of their income between 65 and 80

percent of total production (Chuka, 2014).

Farmers have been forced to feed poultry due to the

high cost of feed components. Agro-by-products of inferior

quality, such as palm kernel cake and rice husk, which

lowers feed utilization efficiency due to high fiber content

(Chuka, 2014). As a result, researchers are tasked with

identifying potential feed sources. Compounds that aid in

the utilization of fibrous feed by cattle feed. The

importance of supplementing in poultry nutrition cannot be

overstated. Therefore, it is advised that feed quality

regulatory organizations discover ways to apply some form of

quality control to on-farm feeds as soon as possible.

Synthesis

In general, these cited foreign studies validated the

enormous potential for utilizing Mosquito Fern (Azolla

46
pinnata) as chicken feed while also lowering the cost of

feeding. The aquatic plant under the Salviniaceae family

contains a lot of functions which includes chicken and fish

feed ingredient, bio-fertilizer, and improves crop

productivity. Among its functions, Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) as an animal feed is commonly used for poultry

farmers. It helps poultry owners to decrease the amount of

cost production since it is cheaper than the processed one.

When feeding a chick with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata), it

is a must to follow the ideal percentage needed for chicks

growth which cannot go beyond 10%. The importance of proper

measurement can be beneficial to chicks and avoid any

malfunction in its body growth.

On the other hand, commercial feed is still used in

poultry farming. Farmers have been practicing this process

to mix with elements and used as an ingredient to avoid any

diseases for animal’s health. This is the advantage of

farmers in using commercial feed to chicks’ growth. It

guarantees good weight gain which can be beneficial for

business owners. However, it costs a lot of the production

and covers almost the needed amount of poultry business.

Local Studies

47
 A research entitled, “Reduction of Greenhouse Gas

Emissions of Azolla pinnata Inclusion in Backyard Chicken

Production” conducted in the Philippines states Backyard

chicken production is an integral part among rural families

in the tropics like the Philippines. However, it has been

declining as it continues to suffer low productivity with

its small-scale operations. Among its production inputs,

feeds remain to be the top cost driver, as well as the top

contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result in

global warming potential (GWP). In a prior experiment, 50%

inclusion of Azolla Pinnata was recommended in feed ratio

due to its favorable and comparable growth performance of

dominant backyard chickens. Hence, this study further

evaluated the inclusion in terms of environmental

performance. The 50% inclusion resulted in reductions of CO2

by 35%, N2O by 22.32%, and CH4 by 4.74%. The gross effect of

this reduction of conventional feeds is a climate change

mitigation equivalent 28.47% of Global Warming Potential.

The potential impacts indicate that Azolla Pinnata can be a

cost-effective and sustainable feedstuff in backyard chicken

rearing system especially that it requires simple

propagation method. The environmental impacts and savings

can encourage more livelihood activities in rural (Espino &

Bellotindos, 2020).

48
 Meanwhile, Cagape et al. (2009) in a study entitled

“Optimizing Harvest Dates in Philippine Commercial Poultry

Farming” examined how the cleaning period in commercial and

contract poultry raising can be improved such that the

poultry collected at the end of the growing cycle can be

sold at a higher market price. A dynamic programming model

was formulated that is able to alter the dates of the

harvest and position them to periods with high market prices

for poultry. The recommended plan improved the total profit

for the studied case in the Philippines by about 20.92%.

In an Experimental Research conducted in the University

of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines entitled

“Evaluation of the Protein Quality of Soybean Meals from

Different Sources in Broiler Chicks Fed with Semi-Purified

Diets”, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the

protein quality of dehulled soybean meal from the US (United

States), Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, and the Philippines,

and a non-dehulled SBM from India using chemical and

bioassay techniques in 320 male Ross broiler chicks fed with

a semi-purified diet for 10 days based on corn-starch-

dextrose-soy oil calculated to contain 3,200 kcal/kg

metabolizable energy, 13.9% crude protein, 0.9% lysine, 0.2%

methionine, and 0.4% methionine and cystine. Chemical

49
analysis of Soybean meal in Experiment 1 showed that Soybean

meal from the US and Malaysia had lower crude fiber contents

than the Soybean meal from Argentina and Brazil. Good

Soybean meal processing was shown by Malaysia Soybean meal

with the highest protein solubility of 83% while poor

processing was shown by Brazil Soybean meal with the lowest

protein solubility tests of 67% relative to SBM from US

(79%) and Argentine (78%). Weight gain, feed gain, and

protein efficiency ratio of chicks fed the high-efficiency

Soybean meal from Malaysia were significantly higher than

those fed with Soybean meal from the US, Argentina, and

Brazil. Chicks fed with the poor quality overtoasted Soybean

meal from Brazil had significantly low PER compared with

those birds fed with the Soybean meals from the US,

Malaysia, and Argentina. In Experiment 2, weight gain, feed

gain, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly lower

in birds fed with the non-dehulled Indian Soybean meal than

those fed with the US or Philippine Soybean meal. In both

experiments, the addition of 0.2% DL-methionine to the diet

significantly improved the weight gain, feed gain, and

protein efficiency of birds (Mateo et al., 2009).

According to Chang (2007), in a study entitled

“Overview of the World Broiler Industry: Implications for

50
the Philippines”, global production of broiler meat has been

growing since the 1960s, faster than that of any other meat.

In recent years, this growth has occurred in developing

countries. Broiler meat is popular because it is cheaper,

more versatile, and is perceived to give more health

benefits than red meat. In spite of these advantages, the

world broiler industry increasingly faces pressure to

improve its production methods, with consumers and

government citing health, environment, and animal welfare as

the areas for improvement. Demand outlook is positive for

the Philippine broiler industry because of the continuing

growth in population and household incomes in the country.

However, it faces threats from cheaper imports as a result

of its higher cost of production and its less efficient

marketing system. To compete, the Philippine broiler

industry must aim for more efficient systems of production

and marketing, and the government must provide an

environment conducive to productivity improvement.

In a study entitled, “Analysis of the Philippine

Chicken Industry: Commercial versus Backyard Sectors” Chang

(2005), revealed that the chicken industry in the

Philippines has diverse components. The commercial sector is

characterized by large-scale, industrialized production

51
systems of broilers and layers of exotic hybrids. On the

other hand, the backyard sector is worth a separate

investigation because it differs from the commercial sector

in terms of production and marketing issues and has, so far,

received less attention from researchers and policymakers.

This paper identifies key issues and provides policy

implementations for both sectors. In the main, the

commercial sectors face serious threats from global

competition and its future depends largely on access to

cheap inputs and improvements in production and marketing

efficiency. Although not yet threatened by trade

liberalization, the backyard sector suffers from low

productivity and high mortality rates because of technical

know-how and access to key inputs. Its future depends on

identifying and removing constraints to subsistence backyard

production.

Synthesis

To synthesize, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) was

recommended in one of the studies as a favorable feed for

backyard chickens as the way that it thrives was comparable

and outstanding. The impacts then allow Mosquito Fern

(Azolla Pinnata) to be in the list of recommendations as

poultry feeds because it helps not just on the growth

52
performance of poultry, but also in mitigating climate

change and global warming factors. Additionally, Dates, and

Dehulled Soybean Meals and Non-Dehulled Soybean meals from

the United States, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, India, and

the Philippines was proven to be effective to chicks having

a significant impact on the weight gain and growth

performance of the chicks considering that they have high

protein content which is essential on the growth of the

chicks showing similarities to Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and Commercial Feeds that also have high protein

content which then shows that Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) could be used as a poultry feed for poultry.

Moreover, the demand outlook for poultry is positive for the

Philippine broiler industry because of the continuing growth

in population and household incomes in the country. However,

it faces threats from cheaper imports as a result of its

higher cost of production and its less efficient marketing

system, then the Philippines must have more efficient

systems of production and marketing, and the government must

provide an environment conducive to productivity

improvement. That said, including Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) to the inclusion of chicks will help in having more

efficient systems of production and marketing of poultry in

the Philippines and it is an environment conducive that can

53
be provided by the government. Furthermore, the backyard

sector suffers from low productivity and high mortality

rates because of technical know-how and access to key

inputs. Including the inclusion of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) to backyard chickens will help in the transition of

the productivity and mortality rates of backyard

poultry. These cited studies validates the importance of

finding other inclusions of poultry feeds, wherein Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) can be.

Chapter III

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

54
 In this chapter, the research methodology used in the

study was described. The area where the study was conducted,

the data gathering instrument used and in gathering data,

procedures, including methods implemented were described.

This chapter also discusses the various tools and techniques

used to conduct the research study.

Methods of Research

This research was conducted in an Experimental Method.

Experimental Method is a type of research method wherein the

researchers can establish the cause and effect relationship

between several variables (McLeod, 2012). This method is

suitable for research whose goal is to examine the cause-

effect relationship between variables. It contains dependent

and independent variables wherein the dependent variables

are the variables being treated or manipulated and are

sometimes called the “subject of the research” while the

independent variables are the experimental treatment being

exerted on the dependent variables (Afeez, 2021). In the

study, the one that stands as the dependent variables are

the chicks, specifically their growth performance in terms

of weight gain and food consumption which was supplemented

by the independent variables which are the Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds, the first feed

55
mentioned belongs to the experimental group while the second

belongs to the control group. The researchers conducted this

research to test the effectiveness of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) to the growth performance of the chicks comparing

it to commercial feeds and to find out if there is a

difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds to the growth performance of the chicks.

Subjects of the Study

The researchers selected eight (8) chicks as the

subject of the study. As a result, they were gathered using

a Total Population Sampling Technique. "Total Population

sampling is a sort of purposive sampling in which the entire

sample of the population is studied as it is most practical

when the total population is manageable, including a well-

defined subgroup of a bigger population" (Stephanie, 2018).

The population was be separated and categorized into two

parts: control and experimental, with the control group

getting and consuming commercial feeds and the experimental

group receiving and consuming Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) with the inclusion of rice bran. Furthermore,

chicks were chosen from among the other poultry to be

supplemented because quick changes and variances in their

appearance and weight can be seen as they mature during

56
observation. They are also the most affordable of the

poultry options.

Table 1: Population of the Study

Groups No. of Type of Amount of

Chicks Poultry Feed Feeds

Experimental 4 chicks Mosquito Fern Week 1- 20

Group (Azolla grams rice

Pinnata) with bran + 20

Rice Bran grams Azolla

Week 2- 40

grams rice

bran+ 40

grams Azolla

Week 3- 60

grams rice

bran+ 60

grams Azolla

Week 4 – 80

grams rice

bran + 80

grams Azolla

Week 5 - 100

grams rice

57
 bran + 100

grams Azolla

Week 6 - 120

grams rice

bran + 120

grams Azolla

Control Group 4 chicks Commercial Week 1 - 40

Feeds grams

Commercial

feeds

Week 2 - 80

grams

Commercial

Feeds

Week 3 - 120

grams

Commercial

Feeds

Week 4 - 160

grams

Commercial

Feeds

Week 5 – 200

grams

58
 Commercial

Feeds

Week 6 - 240

grams

Commercial

Feeds

Experimental Treatments

Table 2: Treatments for Experimental Group

Treatments Amount of Rice Amount of Mosquito

Bran Fern (Azolla

Pinnata)

Treatment 1 20 grams 20 grams

Treatment 2 40 grams 40 grams

Treatment 3 60 grams 60 grams

Treatment 4 80 grams 80 grams

Treatment 5 100 grams 100 grams

Treatment 6 120 grams 120 grams

Table 2 shows the experimental treatments that were

applied in the Experimental Group of Chicks. Treatment 1

uses 20 grams of rice bran and 20 grams of Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata). Treatment 2 used 40 grams of rice bran and

59
40 grams of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata). Treatment 3 used

60 grams of rice bran and 60 grams of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata). Treatment 4 used 80 grams of rice bran and 80

grams of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata). Treatment 5 used

100 grams of rice bran and 100 grams of Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata). And Treatment 6 used 120 grams of rice

bran and 120 grams of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata).

Table 3: Treatments for Control Group

Treatments Amount of Commercial Feeds

Treatment 1 40 grams

Treatment 2 80 grams

Treatment 3 120 grams

Treatment 4 160 grams

Treatment 5 200 grams

Treatment 6 240 grams

Table 3 shows the treatments that were applied in the

controlled group of chicks. Treatment 1 used 40 grams of

commercial feeds. Treatment 2 used 80 grams of commercial

feeds. Treatment 3 used 120 grams of commercial feeds.

Treatment 4 used 160 grams of commercial feeds. Treatment 5

used 200 grams of commercial feeds. And Treatment 6 used 240

grams of commercial feeds.

60
Data-gathering Instruments

Beaker – It was used in measuring the volume of water

consumed by the chicks.

Chicken Cages - It was used as a place where the chicks

will stay throughout the data-gathering process.

Chicks – They supplemented the Mosquito Fern (Azolla

Pinnata) and Commercial Feeds.

Commercial Feeds - It was used as one of the poultry

feeds that was eaten by the chicks.

Incandescent Light - It was used to increase the heat

of the chicken cages where the population is staying.

Microsoft Excel – It was used in calculating and

gathering the results of the observation in the weight and

food consumption of the chicks and determined the Average

Initial Weight, Average Final Weight, Average Initial Food

Consumption, and Average Final Food Consumption of the

chicks supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds.

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) - It was used as one of

the poultry feeds that was eaten by the chicks.

61
 Plastic Chicken Water Container – It was used as the

container where the chicks drank water.

Plastic Containers - It was used as the storage of the

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds.

Rice Bran – It served as a supporting element of the

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

Tape Measure – It was used in measuring the size of the

chicken cages

Tarpaulin – It was used as the storage of the water

needed for the cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata)

Thermometer – It was used in measuring the air

temperature within the chicken cages of the chicks.

Water – It was used as the main element needed for the

cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata).

Weighing Scale – It was used in measuring the weight of

the chicks and the weight of the food that they have eaten.

Wood – It was used as the support of the tarpaulin.

Vitamins – It was added in the water being consumed by

the chicks.

62
Data-gathering Procedures

Step 1: Prepare the needed experimental materials. The

researchers bought the materials that are prerequisite

throughout the observational and data-gathering process

which are the Chicks, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata),

Commercial Feeds, Vitamins, Incandescent Light, Plastic

Chicken Water Container, Plastic Container, and Tarpaulin.

This step involved the cleaning of the Mosquito Fern

(Azolla Pinnata) and Chicken Cages and the transferring of

the Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to

organizers to ensure organization throughout the process.

Step 2: Prepare the experimental set-up. The

researchers prepared the setting where the observation took

place through cleaning the setting. Clean surroundings would

affect the conditions of the chicks in a good way and it

would also allow them to express their natural

behaviors. This step also involved the preparation of the

place where the cultivation of Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) happened.

Step 3: Feed the chicks. The population were divided

into two groups which are the experimental group and the

control group. The experimental group of chicks fed Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) while the control group of chicks fed

63
Commercial Feeds. In every week, a measurement of Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds were given to the

groups of chicks that they supplemented throughout the

day. A volume of water was also be given to the chicks.

Step 4: Get the morning air temperature of the day.

Step 5: Get the measurement of the Food Consumption of

the groups in the morning of the day. Record the data in a

Microsoft Excel File.

Step 6: Get the evening air temperature of the day.

Step 7: Get the measurement of the Food Consumption of

the groups in the evening of the day. Record the data in a

Microsoft Excel File.

Step 8: Every week, get the weight of the chicks

supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds using the weighing scale. Record the

gathered data in a Microsoft Excel File.

Step 9: Repeat the process for 6 weeks (42 days).

Step 10: Compile all data gathered in a Microsoft Excel

File and compute the Average Initial Weight, Average Final

Weight, Average Initial Food Consumption, and Average Final

Food consumption of the chicks in both feeds.

64
 Table 4

Basis for the computation of the Total Daily Weight, Daily

Average Weight, Total of Daily Average Weight, Average

Initial Weight, Total of Average Initial Weight, and Average

Final Weight of the chicks supplemented with Mosquito Fern

(Azolla Pinnata) and Commercial Feeds.

WEEKS Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Average
Weight

Average
Food
Consumption

Statistical Tools

Average Mean - The researchers used Average Mean to

compute the average initial weight, average final weight,

average initial food consumption, and average final food

consumption of the chicks supplemented with Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) and Commercial Feeds. The measurements of

the weight and the food consumption of the chick were

computed using Microsoft Excel with a formula of getting the

mean average that happened during the months of February and

65
March. In finding the mean, the researchers used this

formula:

x=
∑x
n

Wherein:

x = Mean

∑x = Sum of Given Weights

n = No. of samples

T-Test – This tool was used in determining if there is

no significant difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of

Chicks. It used the formula:

N A = the number of scores in Group A

N B = the number of scores in Group B

∑ X A = the sum of all scores in Group A

∑ X B = the sum of all scores in Group B

66
 2
∑X = each score in Group A squared and then added up
A

2
∑X = each score in Group B squared and then added up
B

X A = the mean of scores in Group A

XB = the mean of scores in Group B

Schematic Diagram the Study

67
 Two groups of
chicks

Observation of their growth performance in

terms of weight gain and food consumption
through supplementing Mosquito Fern (Azolla
pinnata) and Commercial Feeds (42 days)

Experimental Group Control Group

(n=4) (n=4)

Feeding of Mosquito Feeding of

Fern (Azolla Pinnata)(1 Commercial Feeds (1
time within 42 days) time within 42 days)

Treatments Treatments
T1- 20 grams rice bran + 20 T1- 40 grams Commercial
grams Azolla feeds
Analyzation of the results to compared the
T2- 40 effects of Mosquito
grams rice bran+ 40 Fern
T2-(Azolla
85 pinnata)
grams Commercial
and
grams Azolla Commercial Feeds to
Feeds the growth
performance of chicks (42 days)
T3-60 grams rice bran+ 60 T3- 120 grams Commercial
grams Azolla Feeds
T4- 80 grams rice bran + 80 T4- 160 grams Commercial
grams Azolla Feeds
T5- 100 grams rice bran + T5- 200 grams Commercial
100 grams Azolla Feeds
T6- 120 grams rice bran + T6- 240 grams Commercial
120 grams Azolla Feeds

68
 Chapter IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents, analyzes, and interprets the

data gathered during the

1.Growth performance of chicks that will be supplemented by

mosquito fern in comparison with commercial feeds in terms

of Average Initial Weight and Average Final Weight

69
 Table 5

Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 1

Table 5 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

1. In the experimental group, Chick No. 1 weighs 52 grams,

Chick No. 2 weighs 66 grams, Chick No. 3 weighs 48 grams,

and Chick No. 4 weighs 64 grams having a total of 230 grams

and an Average Initial Weight of 57.5 grams. On the other

hand, the Chick No. 1 of the control group weighs 74 grams,

Chick No. 2 weighs 52 grams, Chick No. 3 weighs 56 grams,

and Chick No. 4 weighs 44 grams having a total of 226 grams

70
and an Average Initial Weight of 56.5 grams. The Average

Initial Weight of the chicks in the Experimental Group is

higher compared to the chicks in the Control Group at 57.5

grams. The data implied that the growth performance of the

chicks of the Experimental Group in Week 1 is more excellent

than the chicks of the Control Group.

It is proven by Dames (2018), that 2-week old chicks

prefer eating fresh/natural types of poultry feeds than of

the manufactured feeds because chicks are more used to in

natural environment considering that they are omnivore in

nature. This implied that growth performance of 2-week old

chicks is in an excellent state if fed by fresh/natural

poultry feeds.

Table 6

Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 2

71
 Table 6 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

2. In the experimental group, Chick No. 1 weighs 74 grams,

Chick No. 2 weighs 162 grams, Chick No. 3 weighs 82 grams,

and Chick No. 4 weighs 110 grams having a total of 428 grams

and an Average Initial Weight of 107 grams. On the other

hand, the chick no. 1 of the control group weighs 126 grams,

chick no. 2 weighs 82 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 106 grams,

and chick no. 4 weighs 98 grams having a total of 412 grams

and an Average Initial Weight of 103 grams. The Average

Initial Weight of the chicks in the Experimental Group is

higher compared to the chicks in the Control Group at 107

grams. The data implied that the growth performance of the

chicks of the Experimental Group in Week 2 is more excellent

than the chicks of the Control Group.

Same to as 2-week old chicks, 3-week old chicks are

more used to in eating fresh/natural feeds compared to

manufactured feeds because chicks are still struggling to

adapt in another option of feeds. In other words, they are

still in the ‘phase of transition’ in being used to another

feed option they haven’t tried since birth (Dames, 2018).

72
This finding implied that growth performance of 3-week old

chicks are more excellent when they receive the traditional

feed that they are supplementing since their birth.

Table 7

Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 3

73
 Table 7 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

3. In the experimental group, Chick No. 1 weighs 186 grams,

Chick No. 2 weighs 272 grams, Chick No. 3 weighs 146 grams,

and Chick No. 4 weighs 200 grams having a total of 804 grams

and an Average Initial Weight of 201 grams. On the other

hand, the chick no. 1 of the control group weighs 354 grams,

chick no. 2 weighs 204 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 156 grams,

and chick no. 4 weighs 132 grams having a total of 846 grams

and an Average Initial Weight of 211.5 grams. The Average

Initial Weight of the Control Group is higher compared to

the chicks of the Experimental Group at 211 grams. The data

implied that the growth performance of the chicks of the

Control Group in Week 3 is more excellent than the chicks of

the Experimental Group.

74
 In the Philippines, we experience a drop of temperature

from the months of November to February due to the northeast

monsoon which forms over Siberia, Mongolia, and China

(Dhang, 2019). Cold weathers is a factor that can lessen the

effect of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) to the growth of

the chicks considering that Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

have better cultivation in times that temperature is warm

(Allen, 2021). This implied that Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) will have lesser effect to the growth performance

of chicks if the temperature is cold.

Table 8

Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 4

75
 Table 8 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

4. In the experimental group, chick no. 1 weighs 454 grams,

chick no. 2 weighs 386 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 174 grams,

and chick no. 4 weighs 302 grams having a total of 1316

grams and an Average Initial Weight of 329 grams. On the

other hand, the chick no. 1 of the control group weighs 566

grams, chick no. 2 weighs 338 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 236

grams, and chick no. 4 weighs 245 grams having a total of

1385 grams and an Average Initial Weight of 346.25 grams.

The Average Initial Weight of the chicks of the Control

Group is higher compared to the chicks of the Experimental

Group at 346.25 grams. The data implied that the growth

performance of the chicks of the Control Group in Week 4 is

more excellent than the chicks of the Experimental Group.

76
 Northeast monsoon that are being formed in Siberia,

Mongolia, and China are hitting in the Philippines during

the months of November to February making the temperature in

the country dropped during these months (Dhang, 2021).

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) have better cultivation when

temperature is warm or during spring making it more

effective to the chicks. Thus, if weather is cold, Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) can affect the growth performance of

chicks (Allen, 2021). This finding implied that Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) can affect the growth performance of

chicks if temperature is cool.

Table 9

77
Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 5

Table 9 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

5. In the experimental group, chick no. 1 weighs 884 grams,

chick no. 2 weighs 572 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 434 grams,

and chick no. 4 weighs 536 grams having a total of 2426

grams and an Average Initial Weight of 606.5 grams. On the

other hand, the chick no. 1 of the control group weighs 678

grams, chick no. 2 weighs 566 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 512

grams, and chick no. 4 weighs 434 grams having a total of

2190 grams and an Average Initial Weight of 547.5 grams. The

Average Initial Weight of the chicks in the Experimental

Group is higher compared to the chicks in the Control Group

78
at 673.5 grams. The data implied that the growth performance

of the chicks of the Experimental Group in Week 5 is more

excellent than the chicks of the Control Group.

During the month of March in the Philippines,

temperature is starting to transit from cold to being warm

making the month of March warm (Pulley, 2019). Cultivation

of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is more active during warm

temperatures making it more effective to the growth

performance of the chicks. Ergo, Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is suitable to be supplemented by chicks if

temperature is warm implying that the growth performance of

the chicks that will be feeded with Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) will have better growth performance if temperature

is warm (Mazid, 2015).

79
 Table 10

Frequency of the Weekly Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight,

and Average Initial Weight of the Chicks of the Experimental

Group and Control Group in Week 6

Table 10 shows the data of the frequency of the Weekly

Weight, Total of the Weekly Weight, and Average Initial

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group in Week

6. In the experimental group, chick no. 1 weighs 948 grams,

chick no. 2 weighs 670 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 512 grams,

and chick no. 4 weighs 564 grams having a total of 2694

grams and an Average Initial Weight of 673.5 grams. On the

other hand, the chick no. 1 of the control group weighs 866

grams, chick no. 2 weighs 582 grams, chick no. 3 weighs 704

grams, and chick no. 4 weighs 468 grams having a total of

2620 grams and an Average Initial Weight of 655 grams. The

80
Average Initial Weight of the chicks in the Experimental

Group is higher than the chicks in the Control Group at

673.5 grams. The data implied that the growth performance of

the chicks of the Experimental Group in Week 6 is more

excellent than the chicks of the Control Group.

When chicks turn into 7-week old, they start to double

or triple the food that they are eating especially to foods

with high protein content. This circumstance shows the

direct relationship of the amount of food that the chicks

are supplementing to their weight gain, hence, if the amount

of food consumed increases, the weight will increase as well

(Bergen, n.d). This context implies that 7-week old chicks

will have more excellent growth performance to feeds with

high protein.

81
 Table 11

Frequency of the Average Initial Weight, Total of the

Average Initial Weight, and the Average Final Weight of the

Experimental Group and Control Group

Table 11 shows the Frequency of the Average Initial

Weight, Total of the Average Initial Weight, and the Average

Final Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group. In

the experimental group, the Average Initial Weight of the

Chicks in Week 1 is 57.5 grams, the Average Initial Weight

of the Chicks in Week 2 is 107 grams, the Average Initial

Weight of the Chicks in Week 3 is 201 grams, the Average

Initial Weight of the Chicks in Week 4 is 329 grams, the

Average Initial Weight of the Chicks in Week 5 is 606.5

82
grams, and the Average Initial Weight of the Chicks in Week

6 is 673.5 grams garnering the total of 1974.5 grams and an

Average Final Weight of 329.0833 grams. Meanwhile, in the

control group, the Average Initial Weight of the Chicks in

Week 1 is 56.5 grams, the Average Initial Weight of the

Chicks in Week 2 is 103 grams, the Average Initial Weight of

the Chicks in Week 3 is 211.5 grams, the Average Initial

Weight of the Chicks in Week 4 is 346.25 grams, the Average

Initial Weight of the Chicks in Week 5 is 547.5 grams, the

Average Initial Weight of the Chicks in Week 6 is 655 grams,

having a total of 1919.75 grams and an Average Final Weight

of 319.9583 grams. The Average Final Weight of the

experimental group is higher than the control group at

329.0833 grams. The data implied that the growth performance

of the chicks in the experimental group is more excellent

than the chicks in the control group during the overall

experimentation.

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) contain 25-35% protein

content, 10-15% mineral content, and 7-10% of combination of

amino acids (Kamalasanana, 2012). On the other hand,

commercial feeds contain 20-23% protein content, 0.28%

mineral content, and 5-6% of amino acids (Alabama, 2017).

Basically, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) have higher

83
nutritive value in terms of protein content, mineral

content, and amino acids compared to commercial feeds which

are essential to the growth of chicks (Afolayan, 2021). This

rationale implied that chicks supplemented with Mosquito

Fern (Mosquito Fern) have better growth performance compared

to chicks fed with Commercial Feeds.

2.What is the amount of the food consumption of the chicks

that will be supplemented by Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata)

in comparison with commercial feeds in terms of Average

Initial Food Consumption and Average Final Food Consumption

Table 12

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 1

84
 Table 12 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 1. In the experimental group, the

Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 1 is

20.85714286 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 1 is 19.71428571 grams, the Total Food

Consumptions in Week 1 is 40.57142857 grams, the Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Chicks in Week 1 is

20.28571429 grams. In the control group, the Average Food

Consumption in morning of the Chicks in Week 1 is

17.57142857 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 1 is 17.28571429 grams and for the total

food consumption of the week 1 is 34.85714286 garnering the

average initial food consumption of 17.42857143 grams. The

Average Initial Food Consumption in the experimental group

is higher compared to the Chicks in the control group at

20.28571429 grams. The data implied that the amount of food

consumption of the chicks in the Experimental Group in Week

1 is higher compared to the Control Group.

According to Biggs (n.d.), 2-week old chicks eats a lot

if fresh/natural poultry feeds are given to them because

85
they are more used to in the taste of fresh/natural feeds

considering that they are built to live in natural

environments. This outcome implied that 2-week old chicks

will have higher food consumption if fresh/natural type of

poultry feed is given to them.

Table 13

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 2

Table 13 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

86
Control Group in Week 2. In the experimental group, the

Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 2 is

61.85714286 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 2 is 55.07142857 grams, the Total Food

Consumptions in Week 2 is 116.9285714 grams, the Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Chicks in Week 2 is

58.46428571 grams. In the control group, the Average Food

Consumption in morning of the Chicks in Week 2 is

39.14285714 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 2 is 32.57142857 grams and for the total

food consumption of the week 2 is 71.71428571 garnering the

average initial food consumption of 35.85714286 grams. The

Average Initial Food Consumption in the experimental group

is higher compared to the Chicks in the control group

at 58.46428571 grams. The data implied that the amount of

food consumption of the chicks in the Experimental Group in

Week 2 is higher compared to the Control Group.

Akin to 2-week old chicks, 3-week old chicks prefers

eating natural/fresh types of fodder considering that they

are more used to it affecting their food consumption (Biggs,

n.d). This finding implied that 3-week old chicks have

higher food consumption if natural/fresh type of poultry

fodder is given to them.

87
 Table 14

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 3

Table 14 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 3. In the experimental group, the

Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 3 is 98

grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of the Chicks

in Week 3 is 99.14285714 grams, the Total Food Consumptions

in Week 3 is 197.1428571 grams, the Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Chicks in Week 3 is 98.57142857 grams. In

88
the control group, the Average Food Consumption in morning

of the Chicks in Week 3 is 73.57142857 grams, the Average

Food Consumption in Night of the Chicks in Week 3 is

76.42857143 grams and for the total food consumption of the

week 3 is 150 grams garnering the average initial food

consumption of 75 grams grams. The Average Initial Food

Consumption in the experimental group is higher compared to

the Chicks in the control group at 98.57142857 grams. The

data implied that the amount of food consumption of the

experimental group in week 3 is higher compared to the

control group.

Chicks are not suited to cold temperatures because they

don’t have feathers to self-regulate temperature (Arnes,

2022). It is proven in a study that chicks are more active

in dusk compared to morning when the temperature is cold

with the inclusion of the ‘Midnight Lighting Technique’

which involves adding an incandescent light to the chicken

cages of the chicks to keep the chicks warm. The technique

increases the stamina and awareness of the chicks during

cold weather affecting their food consumption in night

(Leentafar, 2005). This implied that chicks consume more

fodder at night if the temperature is cold.

89
 Table 15

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 4

Table 15 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 4. In the experimental group, the

Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 4 is

111.1428571 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 4 is 116.5714286 grams, the Total Food

Consumptions in Week 4 is 227.7142857 grams, the Average

90
Initial Food Consumption of the Chicks in Week 4 is

113.8571429 grams. In the control group, the Average Food

Consumption in morning of the Chicks in Week 4 is

93.71428571 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 4 is 90.28571429 grams and for the total

food consumption of the week 4 is 184 grams garnering the

average initial food consumption of 92 grams. The Average

Initial Food Consumption in the experimental group is higher

compared to the Chicks in the control group at 113.8571429

grams. The data implied that the amount of food consumption

of the experimental group in Week 4 is higher compared to

the control group.

During cold temperatures, chicks struggle to self-

regulate because they don’t have feathers to do so (Arnes,

2022). The 'Midnight Lighting Technique,' which is adding an

incandescent light to the chicken cages of the chicks to

keep them warm, has been confirmed in a study to make chicks

more active at twilight compared to the morning when the

temperature is frigid, as demonstrated by the results of the

study. During cold weather, the strategy boosts the stamina

and alertness of the chicks, which has an impact on their

food consumption at nighttime (Leentafar, 2005). This

91
implied that if the temperature is frigid at night, chicks

will consume more feed than usual.

Table 16

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 5

Table 16 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 5. In the experimental group, the

Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 5 is

92
117.2857143 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 5 is 120.2857143 grams, the Total Food

Consumptions in Week 5 is 237.5714286 grams, the Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Chicks in Week 5 is

118.7857143 grams. In the control group, the Average Food

Consumption in morning of the Chicks in Week 5 is

104.8571429 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 5 is 98.85714286 grams and for the total

food consumption of the week 5 is 203.7142857 grams

garnering the average initial food consumption of

101.8571429 grams. The Average Initial Food Consumption in

the experimental group is higher compared to the Chicks in

the control group at 118.7857143 grams. The data implied

that the amount of food consumption of the experimental

group in Week 5 is higher compared to the control group.

March temperatures in the Philippines begin to

transition from cold to warm, making March a warm month

(Pulley, 2019). Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) cultivation

is more active in warm temperatures, making it more

beneficial to the chicks' growing performance. Thus, if the

temperature is warm, Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is

acceptable for supplementation by chicks, meaning that the

93
growth performance of the chicks fed with Mosquito Fern

(Azolla pinnata) will be improved (Mazid, 2015).

Table 17

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption in Morning,

Average Food Consumption in Night, Total of the Food

Consumption of the Week, and Average Initial Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group in

Week 6

Table 17 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption in Morning, Average Food Consumption in Night,

Total of the Food Consumption of the Week, and Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group in Week 6. In the experimental group, the

94
Average Food Consumption in the morning for the Week 6 is

152.7142857 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 6 is 135.8571429 grams, the Total Food

Consumptions in Week 6 is 288.5714286 grams, the Average

Initial Food Consumption of the Chicks in Week 6 is

144.2857143 grams. In the control group, the Average Food

Consumption in morning of the Chicks in Week 6 is

117.1428571 grams, the Average Food Consumption in Night of

the Chicks in Week 6 is 121.1428571 grams and for the total

food consumption of the week 6 is 238.2857143 grams

garnering the average initial food consumption of

119.1428571 grams. The Average Initial Food Consumption in

the experimental group is higher compared to the Chicks in

the control group at 144.2857143 grams. The data implied

that the amount of food consumption of the experimental

group in Week 6 is higher compared to the control group.

Chicks double or triple the amount of food they consume

when they are 7 weeks old, especially when it comes to

protein-rich diets. Since the amount of food ingested by the

chicks has a direct correlation to weight gain, an increase

in intake will lead to an increase in weight (Bergen, n.d).

In light of this, it is reasonable to assume that 7-week-old

chicks will be more likely to consume high-protein meals.

95
 Table 18

Frequency of the Average Food Consumption, Total of the

Average Food Consumption, and the Average Final Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group

Table 18 shows the Frequency of the Average Food

Consumption, Total of the Average Food Consumption, and the

96
Average Final Food Consumption of the Experimental Group and

Control Group. In the experimental group, the Average

Initial Food Consumption for Week 1 measures 20.28571429

grams, the Average Initial Food Consumption for Week 2

measures 58.46428571 grams, the Average Initial Food

Consumption for Week 3 measures 98.57142857 grams, the

Average Initial Food Consumption for Week 4 measures

113.8571429 grams, the Average Initial Food Consumption for

Week 5 measures 118.7857143 grams, and the Average Initial

Food Consumption for Week 6 measures 144.2857143 grams,

having a total of 554.25 grams and an Average Final Food

Consumption of 92.375 grams. Meanwhile, in the control

group, the Average Initial Food Consumption for Week 1

measures 17.42857143 grams, the Average Initial Food

Consumption for Week 2 measures 35.85714286 grams, the

Average Initial Food Consumption for Week 3 measures 75

grams, the Average Initial Food Consumption for Week 4

measures 92 grams, the Average Initial Food Consumption for

Week 5 measures 101.8571429 grams, and the Average Initial

Food Consumption for Week 6 measures 119.1428571 grams

having a total of 441.2857143 grams and an Average Final

Food Consumption of 73.54761905 grams. The Average Final

Food Consumption of the Experimental Group is higher

compared to the Control Group at 92.375 grams. The data

97
implied that the amount of food consumption of the

experimental group is higher compared to the control group

during the overall experiment.

According to Dames (2018), chicks are more accustomed

to consuming natural/fresh fodder since they are more

adapted to natural habitats due to their omnivorous nature.

This finding implied that chicks will have higher food

consumption if fresh/natural nosh are given to them.

3.Treatment that is effective to the growth of chicks in

terms of Body weight and Food consumption

Table 19

Frequency of the Average Final Weight of the Experimental

Group and Control Group

Table 19 shows the Frequency of the Average Final

Weight of the Experimental Group and Control Group. The

Average Final Weight of the Experimental Group measures

329.0833 grams while the Average Final Weight of the Control

98
Group measures 319.9583 grams. The Average Final Weight of

the Chicks in the Experimental Group is higher compared to

the chicks in the Control Group at 329.0833 grams. The data

implied that the treatment applied to the chicks of the

Experimental Group is more effective in comparison to the

chicks of the Control Group in terms of body weight.

Protein content of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is at

25-35%, mineral content is at 10-15%, while 7-10% of its

content contain amino acids (Kamalasana, 2012). However, the

protein content of commercial feeds contains 20-23%, 0.28%

mineral content, and 5-6% amino acids (Alabama, 2017). The

higher nutritive value of the Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) allows itself to be more effective to chicks

(Afolayan, 2021). This implied that Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) is more effective to the growth performance of the

chicks compared to commercial feeds in terms of body weight.

Table 20

Frequency of the Average Final Food Consumption of the

Experimental Group and Control Group

99
 Table 20 shows the frequency of the Average Final Food

Consumption of the Experimental Group and Control Group. The

Average Final Food Consumption of the Experimental Group

measures 92.375 grams while the Average Final Food

Consumption of the Control Group measures 73.54762 grams.

The Average Final Food Consumption of the Experimental Group

is higher compared to the control group at 73.54762 grams.

The data implied that the treatment applied to the chicks of

the Experimental Group is more effective in comparison to

the chicks of the control group in terms of food

consumption.

It is stated in an article written by Dames (2018),

that chicks are more used to in eating natural/fresh fodder

because they are more adaptive to natural environments

considering that they are omnivore in nature. This finding

implied that using fresh/natural fodder as treatments to the

chicks is more effective that manufactured fodder in terms

of food consumption.

4.Significant difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of

Chicks

Table 21

100
 T-statistic and Critical Value of T-test Results

Table 21 shows the T-statistic, and Critical Value of

T-test Results. The T-statistic has a value of 0.063, and

2.228 is the Critical Value. The critical value of the t-

test result is higher compared to the t-statistic at 0.063.

The data implied that there is no significant difference

between Mosquito Fern (Azolla Pinnata) and Commercial Feeds

to the growth performance of chicks.

It is stated in the study conducted by (Singh, 2010)

that Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) can stand as an

alternative for commercial feeds considering that the

nutritive contents of these poultry feeds are akin except to

the high protein content of Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata).

However, despite the dissimilarities in the exact nutritive

value, both are still effective to the growth and weight

gain of chicks, thus, one can substitute the other.

101
 Chapter V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter states the summary of the findings, the

conclusion of the study, and the recommendations to the

beneficiaries of the study.

Summary of the Findings

This study was conducted for the motive of determining

if there is a difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of

Chicks. The research used experimental method as the method

of research. The study’s population has a total of 8 chicks

using Total Population Sampling. The experimentation

happened between the months of February and March in the

year 2022.

The findings of the study are as follows according to

the growth performance of chicks that will be supplemented

102
 by mosquito fern in comparison with commercial feeds in

terms of Average Initial Weight and Average Final Weight are

as follows:

a. The researchers found out that in the first week of the

experimentation, the growth performance of the chicks

supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is more

excellent compared to the chicks supplemented with

commercial feeds at 57.5 grams.

b. The researchers found out that the growth performance of the

chicks of the experimental group during Week 2 is greater

compared to the chicks of the control group measuring 107

grams.

c. The researchers found out that the chicks supplemented with

commercial feeds surpassed the chicks supplemented with

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) according to growth

performance at 211.5 grams during the third week of the

experimental process.

d. The researchers found out that the chicks of the

experimental group were exceeded by the chicks of the

control group in terms of growth performance at 346.25 grams

during the fourth week of the experiment.

e. The researchers found out that the chicks feeded by Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) have a better growth performance

103
 compared to the chicks feeded by commercial feeds at 606.5

grams during Week 5.

f. The researchers found out that, in the last week of the

experimentation, the chicks that took Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) as their fodder transcended the chicks that took

commercial feed as their food in terms of growth performance

at 673.5 grams.

g. The researchers found out that the experimental group of

chicks have the best performance in terms of growth compared

to the control group of chicks at 329.0833 grams in the

overall experiment.

The findings of the study according to the amount of

the food consumption of the chicks that will be supplemented

by Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) in comparison with

commercial feeds in terms of Average Initial Food

Consumption and Average Final Food Consumption are as

follows:

h. The researchers found out that in the first week of the

experimentation, the amount of food consumption of the

chicks supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is

higher compared to the chicks supplemented with commercial

feeds at 20.28571429 grams.

104
i. The researchers found out that the amount of food

consumption of the chicks of the experimental group during

Week 2 is greater compared to the chicks of the control

group measuring 58.46428571 grams.

j. The researchers found out that the chicks supplemented with

Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) surpassed the chicks

supplemented with commercial feeds according to the amount

of food consumed at 98.57142857 grams during the third week

of the experimental process.

k. The researchers found out that the chicks of the control

group were exceeded by the chicks of the experimental group

in terms of amount of food consumed at 113.8571429 grams

during the fourth week of the experiment.

l. The researchers found out that the chicks fed by Mosquito

Fern (Azolla pinnata) have a higher amount of food

consumption compared to the chicks fed by commercial feeds

at 118.7857143 grams during Week 5.

m. The researchers found out that, in the last week of the

experimentation, the chicks that took Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) as their fodder transcended the chicks that took

commercial feed as their food in terms of amount of food

consumption at 144.2857143 grams.

n. The researchers found out that the experimental group of

chicks have the best performance in terms of food

105
consumption compared to the control group of chicks at

92.375 grams in the overall experiment.

The findings of the study according to the treatment

that is effective to the growth of chicks in terms of Body

weight and Food consumption are as follows:

o. The researchers found out that the treatment applied to

the experimental group of chicks is more effective than to

the treatment applied to the control group of chicks in

terms of Body Weight at 329.0833 grams.

p. The researchers found out that, in terms of food

consumption, the treatment applied to the chicks

supplemented with Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) is more

effective compared to the chicks supplemented with

commercial feeds at 73.54762 grams.

The findings of the study according to the significant

difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnata) and

Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of Chicks are as

follows:

q. The researchers found out that there is no significant

difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla pinnta) and

Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of the Chicks.

Conclusion

106
 Based on the aforementioned findings, there is no

significant difference between Mosquito Fern (Azolla

pinnata) and Commercial Feeds to the Growth Performance of

the Chicks. Thus, the hypothesis of the study is accepted.

Recommendations

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