Evaluation of the Nutrient Composition, In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics, and In Situ Degradability of Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthus cruentus, and Amaranthus hypochondriacus in Cattle

Abstract

The amaranth plants showed high potential feed value as forage for ruminants. An in-depth study of this plant, particularly in cattle, will help extend its utilization as an alternative protein and fiber feed source in cattle feeding. In this study, the nutrient compositions of three different species of amaranth, Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthus cruentus L., and Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.—two varieties for each species, A.ca 74, A.ca 91, A.cu 62, A.cu 66, A. hy 30, and A. hy 48—were evaluated. The in vitro technique was used to evaluate the fermentation characteristics such as total gas production, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, pH, and ammonia concentration of the rumen fluid. Moreover, the effective degradabilities of dry matter (EDDM) and crude protein (EDCP) of the amaranth forages were determined through in situ bag technique. The amaranth forages: A. caudatus, A. cruentus, and A. hypochondriacus showed better nutritive value than the locally produced forages in Chungcheong province of Korea. The CP of the amaranth ranged from 11.95% to 14.19%, and the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents ranged from 45.53% to 70.88% and 34.17% to 49.83%, respectively. Among the amaranth varieties, A. hypochondriacus 48 showed the most excellent ruminant feed nutrient quality (CP, 14.19%; NDF, 45.53%; and ADF, 34.17%). The effective degradabilities of dry matter (EDDM; 33–56%) and crude protein EDCP (27–59%) of the amaranth were lower compared to other studies, which could be due to the maturity stage at which the forages were harvested. Nonetheless, A. hypochondriacus 48 showed the highest EDDM (56.73%) and EDCP (59.09%). The different amaranth species did not differ greatly in terms of total VFA concentration or molar proportions, total gas production, or ammonia-N concentration. The high nutrient composition, and highly effective degradability of dry matter and crude protein, coupled with the favorable fermentation characteristics, suggest that the amaranth forages showed good to excellent feed quality for cattle.

The Effects of Lactobacillus Plantarum and Cellulase on Mixed Silages of Amaranthus Hypochondriacus and Corn Meal: Fermentation Characteristics, Nutritional Value and Aerobic Stability

“…2 Amaranth belongs to the genus Amaranthus of the family Amaranthaceae and is used as both human food and animal feed. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, with high protein content, high resistance and high yield, making it a high-quality feed resource for ruminants [3,4]. In addition, the dry matter of amaranth has good degradability and fermentation properties which can add value to ruminant feed.…”

“…The addition of amaranth silage has been reported to contribute to increase body weight gain and reduce rumen methane emissions in male lambs [5][6][7][8]. However, amaranth cannot be preserved for a long period of time by conventional method due to its high protein content, high water content and thick stalks that cannot be easily dried into hay [3,4]. Therefore, silage is a good way to improve the utilization of amaranth, which can not only prolong the preservation time, but also improve the palatability of the feed.…”

“…The success of silage also depends on appropriate biological and chemical conditions that allow a rapid and sufficient decrease in the pH of the silage. Therefore, silage additives are recommended to manipulate fermentation and prolong aerobic stability [3]. Microbial additives such as lactic acid bacteria and cellulase can lead to a rapid drop in pH, facilitating the silage process and improving the fermentation quality [11].…”

Characterization of Seed Oil from Six In Situ Collected Wild Amaranthus Species

“…Amaranthus species have the C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows them to proliferate at high temperatures and light levels, tolerate drought, and aggressively compete with warm-season plants for light, moisture, and nutritive substances. All these characteristics make Amaranth a valuable plant, particularly in parts of the world with scarce water resources [10]. The interest in Amaranth seeds, both for their use in the food field (human and animal nutrition) and their application in the industrial field, is increasing, mainly because its seeds are a source of minerals and vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and unsaponifiable substances, particularly squalene [11].…”

Development of a Lactic Bacteria Starter for Amaranth Silage and Investigation of Its Influence on Silage Quality

“…One of these raw materials is amaranth. The use of amaranth green mass as an alternative source of protein and fiber for canned feed for ruminants is very promising [2][3][4]. There are several reasons why amaranth is a promising fodder crop, including a high concentration of crude protein and dry matter digestibility [5], lower water requirement compared to corn [5], and a high yield up to 85 t/ha [6,7].…”