The laboratory part of the present study was performed in the laboratories of Noor Research and Training Institute, Mabna, Oilseed Cultivation Development Laboratory and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (Tehran, Iran).
Determination of chemical composition of quinoa
Recommended experimental methods were used to determine crude energy (with PARR 1261 calorimeter bomb), percentage of dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, calcium and phosphorus (AOAC, 2002).
Quinoa Seed Processing
In the present study, hydrothermal, extrusion and expansion thermal methods were used to process quinoa seeds. In the hydrothermal method, a 135 kg sample of quinoa seeds was soaked in water (1: 2) in a container and wrapped in aluminum foil. The sample was then placed in an oven at 55 ° C for 25 minutes. The sample was then treated with acetate buffer (pH = 5.5) and kept at the same temperature for 12 hours. The sample was taken out of the oven and washed several times with distilled water to bring the pH to the pre-process state. Finally, the sample was dried in an oven at 80° C for 3 hours. After drying, the grains (at 10% moisture) were ground (Fredlund et al. 1997). The extrusion method was performed at 155±2° C for 15 seconds using a single-screw extruder (single shaft) at a speed of 450 rpm and a diameter of 10 cm. The final step also involved drying and grinding quinoa seeds (Mirghelenj et al. 2013). The expansion process was performed using the wet expansion method at 125° C for 15 seconds using the Amandos Cal single conditioner expander (Heger et al. 2016).
Place and time of the farming experiment
This research was conducted in the spring of 1399 in the research farm of Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr branch. The breeding saloon was well prepared. The floor and walls of the hall were completely washed. Drinking and eating utensils were washed and disinfected before the chickens arrived. Room temperature and humidity were adjusted based on Ross 308 strain breeding guide tables. The room temperature was adjusted to about 32° C in the first week of rearing and the temperature was gradually reduced to 23-24° C. The humidity of the hall was about 55-65% during the breeding period.
Chickens and experimental treatments
Three hundred Ross 308 broilers were weighed and randomly distributed in experimental pens. 15 chickens were placed in each pen. The dimensions of each pen were 1*2 square centimeters. Rations were formulated based on the nutritional needs of Ross 308 strain and UFFDA software. All rations were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Chickens were fed experimental rations from 1 to 42 days of age during the initial 3 periods (1 to 11 days), growth (12 to 22 days), and final (23 to 42 days) using the powdered feed. Experimental treatments included the first treatment which contained a basic ration without quinoa. The second treatment contained 15% of unprocessed quinoa seeds. The third, fourth, and fifth treatments contained 15% of quinoa seeds processed by hydrothermal, extrusion, and expansion methods, respectively. The composition of rations is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Components and nutrient composition of rations (%)
Feed
|
Starter
|
(1-10 day)
|
Grower
|
(11-24 days)
|
Finisher
|
(25-42 days)
|
components
|
Control
|
Contains quinoa
|
Control
|
Contains quinoa
|
Control
|
Contains quinoa
|
Corn
|
55.47
|
436.99
|
56.38
|
43.56
|
61.20
|
48.53
|
Quinoa seed
|
0
|
15
|
0
|
15
|
0
|
15
|
Soybean meal
|
36.53
|
30.13
|
37.69
|
35.63
|
32.64
|
30.29
|
Oil
|
0.90
|
1.20
|
2.04
|
2.21
|
2.73
|
2.91
|
Corn gluten
|
3.00
|
5.57
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Di-calcium phosphate
|
1.77
|
1.64
|
1.69
|
1.52
|
1.48
|
1.32
|
Calcium carbonate
|
0.94
|
0.96
|
0.90
|
0.91
|
0.83
|
0.84
|
Mineral vitamin premix*
|
0.500
|
0.500
|
0.500
|
0.500
|
0.500
|
0.500
|
Methionine
|
0.28
|
0.23
|
0.25
|
0.17
|
0.19
|
0.17
|
Lysine
|
0.20
|
0.27
|
0.10
|
0.05
|
0.01
|
0
|
Threonine
|
0.08
|
0.10
|
0.03
|
0.03
|
0
|
0.02
|
Salt
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
0.25
|
Sodium Bicarbonate
|
0.17
|
0.17
|
0.17
|
0.17
|
0.17
|
0.17
|
Metabolic energy (kcal / kg)
|
2850
|
2850
|
2950
|
2950
|
3050
|
3050
|
Crude protein(%)
|
22.5
|
22.5
|
21.0
|
21.0
|
19.0
|
19.0
|
Lysine (ileal digestibility)
|
1.24
|
1.24
|
1.17
|
1.17
|
0.98
|
0.98
|
Methionine + cysteine (ileal digestibility)
|
0.92
|
0.92
|
0.85
|
0.85
|
0.74
|
0.74
|
Threonine (ileal digestibility)
|
0.84
|
0.84
|
0.76
|
0.76
|
0.66
|
0.66
|
Calcium (%)
|
0.90
|
0.90
|
0.87
|
0.87
|
0.78
|
0.78
|
Available phosphorus (%)
|
0.45
|
0.45
|
0.44
|
0.44
|
0.39
|
0.39
|
* Vitamin premix supplied per kilogram contains 4400000 units of vitamin A, 72000 units of vitamin D, 14400 mg of vitamin E, 2000 mg of vitamin K, 640 mg of cobalamin, 612 mg of thiamine, 3000 mg Riboflavin, 4896 mg pantothenic acid, 12160 mg niacin, 612 mg pyridoxine, 2000 mg biotin and 260 g choline chloride. The provided mineral premix contains 64.5 grams of manganese, 100 grams of iron, 8 grams of copper, 640 milligrams of iodine, 190 milligrams of cobalt and 8 grams of selenium per kilogram.
Study traits
Performance traits
At the end of each week, the chickens were weighed 4 hours after stopping the feed with a digital scale to the nearest 10 g. Feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio were recorded.
Blood biochemical parameters
At 42 days of age, three birds were selected from each experimental unit and blood samples were taken through the Jugular vein. After separating the serum from the blood clot, the resulting serum samples were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 15 minutes. The content of uric acid, total protein, cholesterol, and triglyceride in serum samples was determined using the CHOD-PAP enzymatic method and with the commercial kit of Pars Azmoun Company and Biochemistry Company.
The morphology of the jejunum
The small intestine was spread out next to a graduated ruler. Sections 1.5 cm long were separated from the middle of all three parts of the small intestine (Bradley et al. 1994).
Statistical Analysis
The present experiment was performed with 5 treatments and 4 repeats in a completely randomized design. The general linear model (GLM) procedure in SAS software (2001) was used to compare the means of treatments. The statistical model used was as follows:
yij= µ+ Tj+ eij
where yij is the value of each observation, µ is mean effect, Ti is effect of treatments, and eij is residual effects.