In vivo and in vitro studies to evaluate nutritional value of Chenopodium quinoa as unconventional forage resource for feeding ruminants

The present study was carried out to justify the nutritional value of quinoa hay or silage as unconventional forage source for feeding ruminants in compare with the ordinary berseem hay and corn silage. Two silages were examined, corn silage (CS) and quinoa silage (QS) and two hays; Berseem hay (BH) and Quinoa hay (QH) as roughages. Barley grains (BG) as concentrate (500g/ h/ day) with each of the previous rations was used to formulate four nutritional treatments in feeding experimental animals. Twelve adult Barki rams were used in digestibility trails (3 for each), while another three Barki adult ewes fitted with permanent rumen fistula were used in rumen fermentation and in situ study. Experimental animals were fed as above in the digestibility trials. The obtained results can be summarized as follow: Results showed that pH values of corn and quinoa silages at the opening time were 4.02 and 4.36, respectively with higher TVFA's concentration, and lower ammonia-N concentration, which could be considered as a good indicator of silage characteristics for both of quinoa and corn. Lactic and acetic acids were highest for corn silage in compare with quinoa silage. Digestion coefficient of DM, OM, CP and nutritive values in terms of (TDN% and DCP %) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for corn silage and berseem hay rations compared with quinoa in both forms. Berseem hay was the higher pH value without significant difference (P>0.05), among different groups. Ammonia-N concentration (mg/ 100 ml), rate of NH3-N production (mg/ 100 ml/ hr), and mean values of rate of out flow (%hr) from rumen of ewes fed quinoa hay or quinoa silage were higher (P<0.05) than those fed berseem hay and corn silage. On the contrarily, ewes fed berseem hay and corn silage, recorded higher (P<0.05) TVFA’s concentration (meq/ 100 ml), higher rate of production (meq/ 100 ml), besides higher rumen volume (L) than those fed quinoa hay or silage. Berseem hay ration and corn silage recorded the higher (P<0.05) microbial nitrogen synthesis (MN g/d), in compare with quinoa hay and silage. And while pH value, ruminal volume, and microbial nitrogen synthesis (MN g/d), tended to decrease (P<0.05) with the advancing time of sampling; NH3-N (mg/ 100 ml), tended to increase (P<0.05).