Effect of feeding amaranth on growth efficiency and health of market pigs

Abstract

The aim of the study was to verify the effect of three diets containing 10% amaranth fed to pigs, on selected parameters of metabolism and health and on the growth efficiency in comparison with the control diet containing animal protein. The animals of each group were given the same diet during the entire period of fattening. Experimental and control groups of pigs (n = 10 in each; 5 males + 5 females) with live weight of 18 kg were partially ad libitum fed diets containing dried surface amaranth biomass or amaranth grain either non-heat-treated or heat-treated by popping, or a diet containing meat-and-bone meal for 100 days. No significant differences in the live body weight gains were detected between experimental and control groups. The highest daily body weight gain was recorded in animals fed the mixture containing heat-treated amaranth (0.78 kg) and the best feed conversion was detected in the group fed non-heat-treated grain (2.45 kg). The values of selected biochemical parameters ranged within the physiological limits.