NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF GRAIN AMARANTH (AMARANTHUS-HYPOCHONDRIACUS)IN BROILER DIETS

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feeding and energy uti lization values of raw and autoclaved grain amaranth (Amaranthus hypoc hondriacus) in broiler diets. The grain amaranth sample used in the st udy contained (g kg(-1)): crude protein, 168; crude fat, 58; crude fib re, 60; ash, 26; calcium, 2.2; total phosphorus, 5.6; lysine, 10.1; me thionine, 3.5. In trial 1, raw amaranth was incorporated into a maize- soyabean meal-meat meal diet at 0, 200, 400 and 600 g kg(-1) levels an d fed to broiler chicks from 7 to 16 days of age. Weight gains and fee d intake were depressed (P < 0.01) with increasing levels of raw amara nth in the diet, Feed/gain values were similar between birds fed on di ets containing 0 and 200 g kg(-1) amaranth, but increased (P < 0.01) b eyond 200 g kg(-1) level of inclusion. Trial 2 was conducted to evalua te whether the growth-depressing effects of raw amaranth grain could b e overcome by autoclaving (130 degrees C for 1 h). Weight gains, feed intake and feed/gain of chicks fed on 200 and 400 g kg(-1) autoclaved amaranth diets were similar (P > 0.05) to those fed on the control die t. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of grain amaranth was impro ved by autoclaving. The AME (MJ kg(-1) DM) values of raw and autoclave d amaranth were 11.85 +/- 0.29 and 13.11 +/- 0.26, respectively, The p ositive responses to autoclaving, in terms of feeding and energy utili zation values, suggest the presence of heat-labile anti-nutritional fa ctor(s) in raw amaranth and studies are warranted to identify these fa ctors. The results indicate that processed A. hypochondriacus grain is a potentially useful energy supplement for poultry and can be incorpo rated in broiler diets at levels up to 400 g kg(-1) without adverse ef fects on performance.