A Comparison of the Effects of Raw and Processed Amaranth Grain on Laying Hens’ Performance, Egg Physicochemical Properties, Blood Biochemistry and Egg Fatty Acids

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In ancient civilizations, such as the Maya and Aztecs, amaranth was commonly used in feeding, but due to social and religious changes, it was forgotten. The present research focused on the Amaranthus hybridus chlorostachys species. The aim was to investigate the nutritional effects of raw and processed forms of amaranth grain on the performance and health parameters, as well as egg quality traits, in laying hens. The findings of the present research showed that the studied amaranth, while having valuable nutritious and bioactive compounds, can be used in raw and processed forms at low consumption levels (5 and 10%) in the diet and lead to improvements in bird health and the production of low-cholesterol and low-triglyceride eggs without a negative impact on egg weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and egg physicochemical properties. However, egg production and egg mass were decreased compared to the control group. ABSTRACT: In order to investigate the effects of using different levels of either raw or processed amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus chlorostachys) grain on performance productivity, egg physicochemical properties, blood biochemistry and egg fatty acids, a trial was conducted using 168 Hy-line W-36 laying hens (67 week of age) in a completely randomized design with seven treatments and six replications of four birds for eight weeks. The trial treatments included the control group receiving no amaranth and the test groups receiving 5, 10 and 15% of raw or autoclaved (120 °C for 5 min) amaranth grain based on dry matter. The results showed that the use of processed amaranth up to the level of five and ten percent of the diet compared to raw amaranth resulted in a better performance than the control group (p < 0.05). The consumption of amaranth decreased blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride of trial birds without having a negative effect on their health and blood antioxidant status (p < 0.05). The use of different forms of amaranth in diets of laying hens had no negative effects on the physicochemical properties of eggs and led to the production of eggs with reduced yolk cholesterol and triglyceride; however, the omega-6 content in eggs and the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of amaranth grain at low levels in the diet of laying hens can enhance the health of the bird and the production of quality and useful eggs.