Wude Tsega et al., 2009. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 21 (12)

This study was conducted with the objective of determining the effects of increasing levels of air dried leaves of sweet potato on dry matter intake and body weight gain of Ross broiler finisher chickens. Three hundred chicks with similar body weight of 540 ± 5.28 g and aging 29 days were randomly distributed using completely randomized design in to 15 pens each with 20 chicks and five treatment rations were allocated each with three replications. The five dietary treatments consisted of 0 %, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% air dried leaves of sweet potato.  The experimental feed ingredients as well as the formulated rations were analyzed for dry matter and nutrient contents. The experiment lasted for 28 days during which dry matter intake and body weight change was measured.The laboratory chemical analysis results showed that dried leaves of sweet potato contained 25% crude protein  and 2672.44 kcal ME /kg dry matter, indicating its potential to be used as sources of both protein and energy. The dry matter intake and body weight gain of birds fed on diets containing dried leaves of sweet potato up to 10% inclusion was similar with the control group. But, beyond 10% air dried leaves of sweet potato inclusion, the dry matter intake and body weight gain were reduced from the control group.The results of this study suggested that inclusion of air dried leaves of sweet potato up to the level of 10% of the diet dry matter in the finisher ration might be considered as the optimum level of inclusion when birds are sold on live weight basis.