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Maphosa et al., 2003. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 15 (1)

Document reference 
Maphosa, T. ; Gunduza, K. T. ; Kusina, J. ; Mutungamiri, A., 2003. Evaluation of sweet potato tuber (Ipomea batatas l.) as a feed ingredient in broiler chicken diets. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 15 (1)
Abstract 

The potential of sweet potatoes as an ingredient for broiler chicken feed is not well known in Zimbabwe. An experiment was carried out to determine the potential of raw sweet potato meal as a feed ingredient in broiler diets. Diets were formulated to contain 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % of raw sweet potato meal sweet potato meal as a direct substitute of maize. The proximate composition of the experimental diets and pure sweet potato was determined. Six-day old broilers were randomly allocated to one of the starter dietary treatments then on the finisher diet at 28 days of age. Live weights of birds and cumulative feed intake were recorded once a week. Birds were slaughtered at eight weeks of age. Carcasses from each experimental unit were then analysed for DM, EE, CP, ash, Ca and P. Increasing the proportion of sweet potato meal in the starter diet negatively  influenced weight gain, food intake and food conversion. However, it had no effect on weight gain when included up to 50% in finisher diets.  The relative weight of the pancreas, gizzard, intestines and caeca increased with increasing sweet potato meal inclusion. There were no differences in carcass composition among treatment groups. Inclusion of sweet potato meal up to 50 % in finisher diets had no adverse effects on the performance of the broilers. The recommended level of sweet potato inclusion in the present study is 50 % in finisher diets and none in starter diets.  

Citation key 
Maphosa et al., 2003