Aravindan Neelakandan & Rajamoni investigated the profitability of using azolla as a livestock feed for farmers in India:

In the following example, a farmer used a silpauline sheet for azolla cultivation using an area of 7 x 4.5 feet.

The first yield came on the seventh day followed by almost daily yield of 1 to 1.5 kilogram. The investigation had the following results:

Name of the farmer: Thiru Manickavachagam

Intervention started on: 1st Week of July 2005

Village: Kozhikodu pothai, Kanyakumari district, India

Owns: 3 cows and 2 calves [Hybrid variety]

Before azolla’s use:

Monthly expenditure on feed: Rs 3000
Medical expenditure: Rs 250
Quantity of Milk obtained daily: 15 litres
Domestic use: 1 litre
Milk sold: 14 litres at the rate of Rs 9 per litre
Monthly income generation: Rs 3780
Net profit: Rs 530

After azolla’s use:
Monthly expenditure on feed: Rs 2700
Quantity of Milk obtained daily: 18 litres Domestic use: 1 litre
Milk sold: 17 litres at the rate of Rs 9 per litre
Monthly income generation: Rs 4590
Net profit: Rs 1890

INCREASE IN PROFIT: 2.7 TIMES