Influence of quinoa supplementation on digestion and metabolism of laying hens

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of quinoa supplementation in the diet of laying hens on digestion and metabolism. The study was conducted on laying hens aged 20 weeks and older. Chyme samples were collected 1 and 2 hours after feeding. In the group with the addition of 1% quinoa, an increase in trypsin activity was noted by 20.1% and 24.1% after 1 and 2 hours (p<0.05), phosphorus content by 24.8% after 1 hour (p<0.05), alkaline phosphatase by 24.5% after 2 hours compared to the control group (p<0.05). With an increase in the quinoa supplement level to 10%, a decrease in enzymatic activity was revealed: trypsin - by 18.3% and 18.6% (p<0.05), alkaline phosphatase - by 77.6% and 79.4% (p<0.05), phosphorus content - by 15.1% and 12% 1 and 2 hours after feeding (p<0.05). Possible causes of enzyme activity suppression: the effect of saponins and phytates, excess protein, changes in the acid-base balance (pH) of chyme and insufficient enzymatic adaptation of the intestine. With the addition of 1% quinoa, a decrease in cholesterol and an increase in glucose concentration in the blood were observed, which reflects the improvement of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The use of fistula technology allowed us to reveal a positive effect of the addition of 1% quinoa to the diet of laying hens on enzymatic activity and mineral metabolism. These results highlight the importance of optimal level of quinoa inclusion in compound feeds and confirm the possibility of using laying hens as a model for studying the functional properties of plantbased feed additives. The obtained data are of practical value for formulating diets in poultry farming and reveal the physiological mechanisms of digestive system adaptation.