Amaranth in animal nutrition: A review.

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is grown extensively as a leafy vegetable and for grains for human consumption in Central America, Asia and Africa. It has also been used in many countries as a grain, forage or silage crop for many animals, including cattle, chickens, pigs and rabbits. The aim of this review is to highlight the potentialities of amaranth in animal nutrition, in order to increase the knowledge of this plant and to allow its use in animal nutrition as an alternative protein and fibre source and as a bioactive component (essential fatty acids, flavonoids, stanols, tocotrienols and squalene) source.