Amaranth for Turkey Feeding: How to Achieve Faster Growth, Strong Immunity, and Lower Feed Costs

Turkeys require large amounts of high-quality protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to achieve optimal growth and productivity. This is why more and more farmers are turning to amaranth—a unique forage crop that helps improve poultry performance while reducing feed costs.

Amaranth can be used both as fresh green forage and as pelleted amaranth press cake. Combining these two products provides excellent nutritional support for turkeys at all stages of growth. Amaranth is rich in high-quality protein, lysine, calcium, phosphorus, carotenoids, and other biologically active compounds that contribute to healthy development and rapid weight gain.

Why Grow Amaranth for Green Forage?

Amaranth is one of the highest-yielding forage crops available. Under favorable growing conditions, it can produce between 100 and 200 tons of green biomass per hectare. Its protein content significantly exceeds that of corn, while its lysine content is several times higher.

Key benefits of feeding fresh amaranth to turkeys include:

• Faster weight gain;

• Improved feed intake;

• Stronger immune system;

• Better feather quality and coloration;

• Reduced dependence on expensive protein feeds;

• Higher survival rates among young birds.

Fresh amaranth forage is especially beneficial for turkey poults starting from 20 days of age.

How to Grow Amaranth for Feed?

To maximize green biomass production, forage amaranth varieties should be sown in spring after soil temperatures reach at least 10°C (50°F).

Recommended seeding rate:

• 1–2 kg of seed per hectare for wide-row planting;

• Sowing depth: 1–2 cm.

The first harvest can be made when plants reach a height of 80–120 cm. With adequate moisture, amaranth regrows rapidly after cutting, allowing multiple harvests during the growing season.

Pelleted Amaranth Press Cake – A High-Protein Feed Ingredient

After extracting amaranth oil, a valuable by-product remains: amaranth press cake. This feed ingredient contains approximately 20% protein, along with lysine, dietary fiber, and essential minerals.

Benefits of pelleted amaranth press cake include:

• High nutritional value;

• Easy storage and handling;

• Dust-free feeding;

• Improved feed digestibility;

• Reduced feed costs;

• Consistent weight gains.

The pellets are readily consumed by turkeys of all ages and blend easily with grain-based feed mixtures.

Turkey Feeding Recipes Using Amaranth

Feed Formula for Young Turkeys (1–3 Months)

Per 10 kg of feed mixture:

• Wheat – 4 kg

• Corn – 3 kg

• Barley – 1 kg

• Pelleted amaranth press cake – 1 kg

• Sunflower meal – 0.7 kg

• Feed-grade limestone/chalk – 0.2 kg

• Premix – 0.1 kg

Additionally, provide 100–200 g of fresh amaranth forage per bird daily.

Feed Formula for Growing and Finishing Turkeys (3–6 Months)

Per 10 kg of feed mixture:

• Corn – 4 kg

• Wheat – 2.5 kg

• Barley – 1 kg

• Pelleted amaranth press cake – 1.5 kg

• Crushed peas – 0.7 kg

• Feed-grade limestone/chalk – 0.2 kg

• Premix – 0.1 kg

Fresh amaranth forage can be offered at up to 500 g per bird daily.

Expected Results from Feeding Amaranth

Farmers who regularly incorporate amaranth into turkey diets commonly report:

• Faster growth rates;

• Improved feed conversion efficiency;

• Lower costs for protein supplements;

• Stronger skeletal development;

• Reduced disease incidence;

• Higher meat yield at processing.

The exceptional protein quality and high lysine content make amaranth a valuable ingredient in turkey nutrition programs.

Why Buy Amaranth Seeds and Pelleted Amaranth Press Cake Today?

By growing your own amaranth, you gain access to a cost-effective, high-protein green feed source throughout the growing season. Pelleted amaranth press cake provides a reliable protein supplement year-round, including during winter months.

The combination of fresh amaranth forage and pelleted amaranth press cake is a modern feeding solution that supports healthier birds, improved growth performance, and lower production costs.

Order premium forage amaranth seeds and pelleted amaranth press cake today and discover the benefits of amaranth-based turkey nutrition for your farm.