Effect of quinoa on performance in broiler rations

This research was done to determine the effects of the usage of different levels of quinoa in diets on performance, carcass characteristics and relative internal organ weights of broilers. Daily Ross 308, 84 male broiler chicks were used in this study and the experiment lasted 34 days. The chicks were divided into 3 groups as 1 control and 2 trial groups. Each group was divided into 7 subgroups. 10% and 20% quinoa was added to the ration of each trial groups, while quinoa was not used in the control group. In the groups consuming quinoa on the fifteenth to twenty-first day of the exeriment, the feed consumption was found to be significantly lower (P=0,007) than the control group. On the other hand, the feed consumption of groups consuming quinoa in the twenty-two to twenty-eighth days, but this increase was found to be significant only in the group diet containing 10% quinoa (P=0,030). In this period, a quadratic effect (P<0,05) was observed between feed consumption and quinoa dose. Carcass yield was found to be significantly higher (P=0,008) in the group consuming 20% quinoa than that of other groups. Linear effect (P<0,05) was also observed between carcass yield and quinoa dose. Abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat relative weight percentages were found to be significantly lower (P<0,05) in the group consuming 20% quinoa compared to the control group and a linear effect was detected between these parameters and the quinoa dose (P<0,05). As a result, obtaining positive results in white quinoa seeds, which are added to broiler rations without any treatment, showed that this feed substance can be used upto 20% in the diets of broiler.