AMARANTHUS (AMARANTHUS-CRUENTUS) FORAGE MEAL IN DIETS FOR BROILERS

A maranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) forage meal obtained by sun drying t he whole plant harvested 72 days after sowing and incorporated at leve ls of 0, 5, 10 and 15% in starter and finishing diets for broilers was evaluated. Data on performance, carcass and morphology of the organs were controlled. Liveweight at 49 days worsened with the levels of 10 and 15% with respect to 0 and 5% (1696, 1711, 1506 and 1505 g/bird for 0, 5, 10 and 15%, respectively). Conversion of traditional raw materi als did not differ between treatments containing forage meal which wer e better than the control. Carcass weight was reduced by 8.4 g per uni t (%) increment of forage meal and a greater excess fat proportion was found in the control, due to a higher energy concentration. Bird heal th was satisfactory. This product may substitute the wheat and soybean in 11 and 4 per cent units, respectively when use at 15% in the diet producing liveweight reductions of up to 200 g/bird or of 120 g of tra ditional feeds/kg liveweight increase. The best inclusion level was 5% .