Comparison of nutritional value and ruminal fermentation characteristics of ensiled green amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) with corn silage

Today, the cultivation of forage crops that are resistant and adaptable to dry conditions and droughts is important in Iran. Therefore, recently amaranth as a crop imported from abroad has entered to crop pattern of country. Since, very little research has been conducted on the possibility of using this crop as an animal feed, so, the aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of its ensiling and comparing with corn silage.
Green amaranth and corn forages were chopped into 5-3 cm pieces after harvesting. In order to produce silages, both forages separately were ensiled within polyethylene pipes with a 75 cm length and a 16 cm diameter (four replicates). Silos were opened and sampled at zero, 40 and 60 days after ensiling. Chemical composition, pH, chemical characteristics (water soluble carbohydrates, ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acid concentrations), digestibility (in vitro) and ruminal fermentation kinetics (gas production test) of both silages were determined at zero, 40 and 60 days.
Results showed that DM and CP of amaranth forage at all sampling times were significantly higher than those of corn forage (P Overall, according to the appropriate level of crude protein, cell wall components and digestibility of amaranth and its silage characteristics, such as pH and amount of the water soluble carbohydrates, this forage can be used as a fine silage in animal nutrition.