NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF QUINOA (CHENOPODIUM QUINOA WILLD) CROP AS UNCONVENTIONAL FORAGE RESOURCE IN FEEDING RUMINANTS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculure, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Animal Production Researsh Institute (APRI), Agriculture Reseash Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Twenty lactating Ossimi ewes were randomly distributed according to weight and their average milk yield into 4 groups, (5 ewes each). One group fed berseem hay (BH) (Triforum alxanderinum); the second group fed, quinoa hay (QH);  the third group fed corn silage(CS), while the fourth group was  fed quinoa silage (QS). All groups were offered similar amounts of barley grains (500 g/h/d) as concentrate feed, while hay or silage was offered ad lib. Results showed that silage characteristics of quinoa and corn at opening time were good. Fiber fractions (%) as NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose were higher for quinoa hay followed by quinoa and corn silages, while berseem hay recorded the lowest values. Digestion coefficient of DM, OM, CP and nutritive values (TDN% and DCP%) were higher (P<0.05) for corn silage and berseem hay rations compared with quinoa. Nitrogen intake (NI), retention (NR) and as (NR), percentage of N-intake (NI), was significantly (P<0.05) different in favor of berseem hay; 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) and protein yields were higher (P<0.05) for corn silage and berseem hay rations, followed by quinoa. It was concluded that quinoa can be cultivated during forage scarcity in drought affected regions, as well as in an infertile lands. And from nutritional point of view, quinoa silage or hay are valid substitutions to medium quality roughages in feeding ruminants.

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