Abstract Azolla pinnata (AP) is an aquatic plant that is high in crude protein, amino acids, micronutrients, and phytochemical compounds. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AP intervention on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, and serum biochemical parameters of small ruminants. Fourteen studies were used for the meta-analysis, and the data were analyzed using OpenMEE software. A random-effects model was used, and the results were expressed as mean differences (MD) at 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for each study. Heterogeneity was quantified using the Q – and I 2 - statistics, whereas publication bias was determined using the standard method. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed on following moderators: diet type, ruminant type, inclusion level, live weight, feeding duration, breed, age, and sex considered a priori to explain the sources of heterogeneity. The results revealed that AP-based diets improved body weight gain (BWG) (MD = 1.88 kg; 95 % CI: 0.67, 3.09; p = 0.002), total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) (MD = 1.00 meq/dl; 95 % CI: 0.04, 1.97; p = 0.042) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (MD = −1.48 mg/dl; 95 % CI: −2.94, −0.02; p = 0.047) when compared with the controls, taking significant heterogeneity into account. Subgroup analysis results showed that goats fed AP-based diets had significantly higher BWG (MD = 2.78 kg; 95 % CI: 1.29, 4.27; p < 0.001) than the sheep (MD = 0.37 kg; 95 % CI: −2.13, 2.87; p = 0.771) fed the same diets. Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that studied moderators accounted for most of the sources of heterogeneity. It is recommended that up to 25 % AP be included in the diets of small ruminants to improved BWG, FCR, BUN, and ruminal TVFA content in sheep and goats.
Mbajiorgu et al. (2026) studied this question.