Effects of Raw and Autoclaved Amaranth Grain on Performance and Egg Quality of Layer Hens

   This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of raw and autoclaved Amaranth grain on the performance and egg quality of layer hens. For this purpose 168 Leghorn laying hens strain Hy-line W36 at 67 weeks of age were allocated in completely randomized design with 7 treatments and 6 replicates of 4 birds. Treatments include raw and autoclaved Amaranth each at 0, 5, 10 and 15%. The egg external an internal quality and productive performance of the hens were measured during the experiment. The results showed that, during the whole experiment period, the percentage of egg production, egg weight and egg mass were significantly lower in the birds fed the diets containing different levels of crude and autoclaved amaranth compared to the birds fed the control diet (P<0.05). Also birds fed diets containing different levels of crude and autoclaved amaranth had a significantly higher FCR than the control birds (P<0.05). Amaranth autoclaving reduces the anti-nutritional effects and improves bird performance (P<0.05). Hens fed with diets contain amaranth compared with control group had lower feed intake (P<0.05). Raw and autoclaved amaranth has no effect on egg external and internal quality. Overall, the results showed that with increasing of the Amaranth level in the diet, production performance reduced but autoclaving improved bird performance.