EFFECT OF REPLACING MAIZE (Zea mays L.) WITH SWEET POTATO TUBER (Ipomea Batatas ) ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Effect of replacing maize with partially cooked sweet potato tuber meal (PCSPTM) on performance of broiler chicks was evaluated. 150 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 5 treatments (T1…T5) each with 3 replications in a completely randomized design. T1 contained 0% partially cooked sweet potato tuber meal (PCSPTM), T2 4% , T3 8% , T4 12% and T516% during starter phase and 0% , 5%, 10% , 15% and 20% PCSPTM in T1…..T5,respectively in the finisher phase. Feed intake during the entire trial period were higher (P<0.05) for chickens in T4 and T5 compared to those on diets T1, T2 and T3. The highest (P<0.05) weight gain was observed in broilers fed diet T3 during starter phase while it was highest in chickens fed diets T4 and T5 during the finisher phase and the entire experimental period. Feed conversion ratio of chickens in T5 was better (P<0.05) compared to others in the starter phase, but during the finisher phase, T2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than others. It can be concluded that PCSPTM can be fed to broiler chickens up to 16% of diet during starter and up to 20% during finisher phase with promising growth performance.