Detection of conventional nutrients and anti-nutritional factors in quinoa byproducts, and evaluation of their feeding value

To evaluate the feeding value of Chenopodium quinoa byproducts, such as blighted grain, chaff, bran, and straw, conventional nutrients contents and anti-nutritional factors in the byproducts were measured and compared with the data of alfalfa hay and corn silage. The results showed the following: 1) The crude protein and crude fat contents of blighted grain were significantly higher than those of chaff, bran, and straw (P < 0.01); the crude protein content of the blighted grain was higher than that of alfalfa hay and corn silage; the crude protein content of chaff and bran was higher than that of corn silage; and the ether extract content of the byproducts of quinoa was higher than that of alfalfa hay and corn silage. The neutral detergent fibers and acid detergent fibers contents of straw were significantly higher than those of blighted grain, chaff, and bran (P < 0.01) and those of blighted grain, chaff, and bran were lower than those of alfalfa hay and corn silage. The total digestible nutrients and relative feed value of quinoa blighted grain, chaff, and bran were higher than those of quinoa straw, alfalfa hay, and corn silage. 2) Ivy and oleanolic acid saponins contents of blighted grains and chaff were significantly higher than those of bran and straw (P < 0.01), and the contents of the two types of saponins of straw were the lowest. The glucose, galactose, and xylose contents of straw were significantly higher than those of blighted grains, bran, and chaff (P < 0.01). 3) The phytic acid content of chaff, bran, and straw was significantly higher than that of blighted grains (P < 0.01), and the tannin content of chaff was significantly higher than that of bran, straw, and blighted grains (P < 0.01). According to the comprehensive evaluation of the gray correlation degree, the correlation values of different quinoa byproducts were listed as chaff > bran > bran > straw. In summary, the feeding advantage of quinoa byproducts, such as blighted grain, bran, chaff, and straw, is obvious, and the order is blighted grain > bran > chaff > straw.