Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Rations Containing Dried Amaranthus (A. cruentus) Whole Plant Meal

Four grower rations based on dried Amaranthus (A. cruentus) whole plant meal (AWPM) at 0 (T-1), 15 (T-2), 20 (T-3) and 25% (T-4) were formulated, Twenty four crossbred (Large White Yorkshire X Indigenous) barrows randomly divided into 4 groups, were offered one of the rations ad libitum during grower phase (20–35 kg). Feed intake wasreduced linearly with increasing level of AWPM in ration but differences were statistically non-significant. There was a linear decrease (P<0.01) in average daily gain, feed/kg gain, digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CPand TCHO) and nitrogen retention as the level of AWPM increased in the ration. The cost of feed per kg gain was Rs. 18.15, 18.02, 18.48 and 19.16 in groups T-1, T-2, T-3 and T-4, respectively and the variation amonggrops was nonsignificant. A WPM can be included upto 15% in the rations of growing crossbred barrows.