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Azolla is a fast-growing water fern that dairy farmers can grow at home as a cheap, protein-rich green feed for cows and buffaloes. Fresh azolla contains about 20–25% crude protein on a dry-matter basis, along with useful minerals and vitamins. Fed at 1–2 kg per animal per day alongside the normal ration, it can improve appetite and give a modest lift to milk yield while cutting feed costs — which is why it has become popular on smallholdings across India.
Azolla is a tiny floating fern that grows on the surface of still water. It multiplies very fast — doubling in as little as two to three days — because it lives in partnership with a nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga (Anabaena). That partnership lets azolla build a lot of protein from air and water, making it one of the cheapest sources of green protein a farmer can produce. On a dry-matter basis it carries roughly 20–25% crude protein, plus calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins A and B12.
For a smallholder paying for expensive concentrate, azolla is a way to replace part of that cost with feed grown in the backyard. It is best seen as a supplement to green fodder, dry fodder and concentrate — not a complete replacement — and it fits neatly into a plan to reduce feed cost without losing milk yield.
A simple azolla bed can be made in a shallow pit lined with a UV-stabilised silpaulin sheet, about 2 m × 1 m × 0.2 m, in partial shade:
Introduce azolla gradually so animals get used to the taste. Rinse it well, then mix it with concentrate or bran in roughly a 1:1 ratio at first. Typical amounts are:
Indian field studies have found modest but useful gains from azolla supplementation. In one ICAR-published trial, buffaloes given fresh azolla over their normal ration produced more milk than unsupplemented animals, and other studies report increases of roughly half a litre to nearly a litre per day. The gain is largest where protein was the limiting factor in the original ration and smaller where the diet is already well balanced.
Remember that azolla is a protein and appetite booster, not a mineral mixture. Animals still need balanced minerals for fertility, bone and milk, so pair good feeding with a quality mineral supplement such as Cattle Remedies Verymin (our mineral mixture buying guide explains why), and support appetite and rumen function with Cattle Remedies Grazup in animals that are off feed. For more on lifting yield naturally, see our guide to boosting milk production naturally.
Start with a small amount mixed into the concentrate and build up to about 1–2 kg of fresh azolla per cow or buffalo per day. It should supplement — not replace — the animal's green fodder, dry fodder and mineral supplement.
Field studies in India have shown modest increases, often around half a litre to a litre per day, when azolla is added to a normal ration, mainly because it supplies good-quality protein. The gain is bigger when the original diet was short of protein and smaller when the ration is already well balanced.
Yes — azolla grown in a clean, well-managed bed is safe as a daily supplement. Always wash it before feeding, keep the growing bed free of contamination, and do not rely on it as the only feed; cattle need a balanced ration and clean drinking water alongside it.
Azolla is one of the simplest ways for a small Indian dairy farm to grow its own protein, trim feed costs and give a modest lift to milk yield. Set up a clean bed, feed 1–2 kg a day alongside balanced fodder and minerals, and treat it as one useful part of a well-planned ration. For herd-specific feeding advice, consult your veterinarian or local dairy extension officer.
References: ICAR — Indian Journal of Dairy Science, azolla supplementation in lactating buffaloes (epubs.icar.org.in); Khar et al., ‘Milk production of indigenous cattle fed azolla’, Livestock Research for Rural Development (lrrd.org).
This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional veterinary advice.
