EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF QUINOA ON BROILER GROWTH-PERFORMANCE

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of inclusion of Danish grown quinoa seed (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in feed for broi lers containing wheat, rapeseed, peas and soybean meal. The effect of dehulling to remove saponins from quinoa was assessed. In the first ex periment the broilers received mash feed diets from 6 to 36 days of ag e. Diets containing 100, 200 and 400 g kg(-1) whole quinoa seed, unpro cessed and dehulled, were compared with a control feed. A linear growt h depression (P less than or equal to 0.01) with increasing inclusion of quinoa was found, As the chickens grew older the growth depression decreased from 1.8 to 0.8% per 10 g kg(-1) quinoa added. A negligible beneficial effect of dehulling (P less than or equal to 0.05) was foun d only for the first week of the experiment. In the second experiment the broilers received pelleted diets from 0 to 39 days of age. Diets c ontaining 150 g kg(-1) unprocessed, 150 g kg(-1) dehulled quinoa and 5 0 g kg(-1) quinoa germ were compared with the control diet, No effect of dehulling was found. A level of 150 g kg(-1) quinoa reduced livewei ght at 20 and 39 days from 627 to 601 g and from 1760 to 1709 g, respe ctively, and the feed conversion was increased at 20 days of age from 1437 to 1486 g feed kg(-1) liveweight (P less than or equal to 0.05). The performance of broilers receiving 50 g kg(-1) of a germ fraction f rom the dehulling was quite as good as the control. It was concluded t hat quinoa has potential as broiler feed, but the inclusion should not exceed 150 g kg(-1) of the diet. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.