The use of amaranth grain in diets for broiler chickens and its effect on performance and selected biochemical indicators

J. Roučková, M. Trčková and I. Herzig
Additional contact information
J. Roučková: , M. T 2, I. H 2 1University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
M. Trčková: , M. T 2, I. H 2 1University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
I. Herzig: , M. T 2, I. H 2 1University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic

Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2004, vol. 49, issue 12, 532-541

Abstract: The objective of our experiment was to test the possibility of using amaranth grain, either heat-treated (AO) or without treatment (AN), in vegetable diets for broilers as a substitution for meat-and-bone meals. The effect of amaranth on performance and selected biochemical parameters was investigated. The groups of chickens fed with amaranth obtained comparable results in all characteristics with the control group whose diet included a component of animal origin. We did not observe any statistical differences in live weights of monitored groups of chickens on day 41 (Kab 2 149.9 ± 274.3; ANab 2 192.2 ± 255.2; AOab 2 186.2 ± 260.8 g). Feed conversion ranged from 1.9 kg in the control group of hens to 2.2 kg in the experimental group of cocks AOa. Carcass yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the control group compared to the group AN. Biochemical characteristics, i.e. the concentrations of proteins, total lipids, cholesterol and glucose in blood sera of broiler chickens were monitored. The inclusion of amaranth in the rations of experimental groups had no effect on protein concentrations compared to the control group. The hypocholesteraemic and hypolipidaemic effects of amaranth grain, as mentioned in the literature, were not confirmed in our experiment. Glucose levels were significantly lower in the experimental groups of chickens (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). We can conclude that amaranth can be successfully used as a substitution for meat-and-bone meals in diets of broiler chickens, and that the tested amount of 7% in a ration had a positive effect on performance.

Keywords: plant protein; weight; feed conversion; carcass yield; blood biochemistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4341-CJAS.html (text/html)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4341-CJAS.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:12:id:4341-cjas

DOI: 10.17221/4341-CJAS

Access Statistics for this article

Czech Journal of Animal Science is currently edited by Bc. Michaela Polcarová

More articles in Czech Journal of Animal Science from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().