Performance and yields of broilers fed extruded grain amaranth and grown to market weight.

A trial was conducted to determine the effects of feeding extruded grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) on performance of male broilers grown in batteries to 49 days of age. Practical corn-soy rations were supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% amaranth and formulated to meet nutrient requirements for the starter (0 to 21 days), grower (21 to 42 days), and finisher (42 to 49 days) periods. Each diet was fed to six replicate pens of 10 male birds each. No differences were observed for feed utilization (P greater than .05), but at Day 49, birds fed 50% amaranth weighed significantly less and had significantly lighter dressed carcass weights than those fed the control diet. For dressing percentages, no significant differences among diets were observed. Dietary differences in fat pad weights were not detected, but significant differences between diets were observed for fat pad weights expressed as a percentage of the total carcass weight (% OTC). Significant and positive linear responses existed when liver weight, liver weight as % OTC, and fat pad weight as % OTC were regressed upon amaranth inclusion. No treatment differences were observed for heart or pancreas weights or for their weights as % OTC. Gizzard weight and gizzard weight as % OTC decreased linearly with amaranth inclusion. Giblet weights (heart + liver + gizzard) were significantly different among diets, but giblet weight appeared to be unrelated to amaranth level. Birds fed the diet with 50% amaranth had giblets of equal size to birds fed the control diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)