Title: Nutritive value of three amaranth grains fed either processed or raw to growing rats
Abstract: Amaranth is being used increasingly as a feed ingredient for both humans and domestic animals yet little effort has been expended examining the specific effects of processing amaranth on nutritive quality. Amaranth seeds are high in protein and fat compared to other grains and may be an important feed source if the utilization of different amaranth cultivars is better understood. Six diets, containing 96% amaranth from three amaranths that were either raw or boiled, were fed to growing rats. The three amaranths [Amaranthus cruentus L. (R158), A. hypochondriacus L. (K343), A. cruentus L. (477913)] were grown at Clay Center, NE. A corn (negative control) and a corn-soy (positive control) diet were the two controls. Thirty-two weanling male rats were randomly assigned to the eight diets for 14 d a Clay Center, NE. Initial weights, final weights, feed intakes, and final organ weights were measured. The experiment was repeated at Davis, CA. Boiled amaranth diets had 68% less trypsin inhibitor activity as compared to unboiled amaranth diets. Rats fed boiled amaranth diets gained more weight with improved efficiency as compared to rats fed raw amaranth diets. Rats fed raw A. hypochondriacus L. (K343) had higher gain to feed ratios (P < 0.05) compared to rats fed other raw amaranths or the corn diet. Growth of rats fed the boiled amaranths A. cruentus L. (R158) or A. hypochondriacus L. (K343) was similar to that of rats fed the corn-soy diet. Heat treatment lowered trypsin inhibitor activity and improved the nutritive value of all amaranths examined in this experiment. Key words: Amaranth, processed, raw, nutritive value, growing rats