Gonzalez et al., 2003. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 15 (9): 4

A growth trial was conducted with a total of 40 crossbred castrate males and female pigs (1:1) of 29.3 kgmean initial live weight distributed at random into five treatments to study the effect of feeding ad libitum fresh foliage from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) and graded levels of protein. From 30 to 60 kg the animals received1.6 kg/day of a feed mix (20.7 MJ/kg) containing 25.1, 23.7, 17.0 or 13.2% protein. From 60 to 90 kg the pigs were fed with 1.8 kg/day of a feed mix (22.0 MJ/g) containing 23.0, 20.6, 14.5 and 9.9% protein. In both periods the animals were fed fresh sweet potato foliage (SPF) ad libitum. In both periods feed intake decreased (P<0.05)with less protein in the feed. Intake of SPF showed a non linear response (P>0.10) with lower values for intermediate levels of protein in the feed. There was no treatment effect on carcass traits of the animals. For the overall growth and finishing periods, the mean daily gain (721 g) and feed conversion (2.40 kg DM/kg gain) were the best with a combination of 23.7/20.6% protein in the feed supplement (1.6/1.8 kg per day). It is suggested that itis possible to obtain good performance traits in pigs fed fresh sweet potato foliage ad libitum, provided a feed supplement is given which contains either 23.7 and 20.6% or 17.0 and 14.5% protein during the growing and finishing periods, respectively.