EFFECT OF FEEDING SWEET POTATOES (IPOMOEA BATATAS) MEAL (SPM) DIETS ON ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION OF BROILER FINISHER

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the nutrient composition and effect of feeding sweet potatoes meal (SPM) based diets as replacement to yellow maize on economics of production of broiler finishers. Four weeks feeding trial was conducted on one hundred and eighty (180) twenty-eight-dayold Ross broiler chicks which were initially weighed and randomly and distributed to four dietary treatments of 45 birds per treatment that were further divided into three replicates of 15 birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The birds were fed diets containing sweet potato meal replacing yellow maize at graded levels at 0, 25, 50, and 75 % respectively. Recommended vaccination schedules were strictly followed.The data generated were subjected to analysis. The results indicated that all proximate parameters were significantly different (P<0.05) between treatment means. The evaluation of economics of production indices revealed reduction in total feed cost as the level of SPM as replacement level for yellow maize increased from 0 – 75 %. Therefore, this study recommended that SPM could be incorporated into diet of broiler finishers up to 75% as replacement level for yellow maize as it is evident that the use of SPM can reduce the cost of broiler bird production.