The potential of amaranth grain for feeding to poultry

Abstract

SUMMARY: Amaranth is a pseudocereal that has a potentially greater role to play in reducing malnutrition and promoting animal feed security because of its high quality and ability to adapt to environmental stresses. We review the nutrient content and its value for poultry feeding, as well as uses in industry and for human food that might impact on its availability for poultry. Wit effective processing to detoxify antinutritive components by extrusion or autoclaving, it can be incorporated at up to 40% in the diet of broiler chickens without loss of productivity. Its nutritional value is high, in terms of protein, oil, mineral and antioxidant content, as well as its excellent amino acid balance. Amaranth is likely to be most beneficial as feed grain for poultry in extreme climatic regions, such as those that are drought prone, as long as effective processing can be incorporated into the feed production system.