Effects of feeding extruded grain amaranth to laying hens.
Extruded grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) was incorporated into corn-soybean meal layer rations at 0, 10, 20, or 30%. Diets were each fed to 20 Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens for 6 wk beginning at 65 wk of age. Data collected from the week prior to the test period were used as a covariate. Egg production was significantly higher and egg weights were significantly lower for birds fed the 10 and 20% inclusion levels of amaranth than for those fed the control diet. However, no differences were observed among the diets for daily egg mass. Significantly less feed was consumed at the 10% inclusion level of amaranth while achieving this higher production. Layers fed diets containing amaranth required significantly less feed to produce a dozen eggs or a gram of egg than those fed the control diet. No differences were observed among the treatments for shell strength, shell thickness, number or severity of blood spots, or Haugh units. Yolk color was negatively correlated with increased amaranth inclusion. No yolk or albumen discolorations were observed after 6 wk of storage. Extruded grain amaranth may be effectively used in layer rations without detrimentally altering production characteristics.
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701.
P B
PB
Tillman
P W
PW
Waldroup
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010058:Oviposition