ABSTRACT

Feeding trails were conducted using twenty-four days-old marshal broiler chicks to assess the replacement value of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) for maize in broiler diets. Six and two birds respectively constitute a treatment and replicate. Four experimental diets were formulated to contain 0, 10, 30 and 50% of sweet potato meal as a replacement of maize. The birds were assigned to these diets; feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the experiment. This experiment lasted for 56 days, 28 days for starter and finisher phases respectively. The proximate composition of the experimental diets was determined. The proximate composition particularly carbohydrate (82.12%), crude protein (4.80%) and gross energy values (3.93kcal/g) showed that sweet potato is a potential feed ingredient. It contains anti-nutritional factors such as phytate (0.94%) and hydrogen cyanides (2.53%). For growth performances, there were significant differences (P<0.05) for total feed intake (1689.50a, 149600b 150320b 1618.40 ab) mean daily feed intake (6034a6353h5369b 57.80) and mean daily weight gain (3630a3453ab3073bc2662c) at the starter phase and only on feed conversion ratio (3.24, 2•79b , 328ab ,4.25a) at the finisher phase for each treatments (T1— T4) respectively. The finally weight gain (2291.70) and the total weight gain (2252.20) supported diet 2 which was numerically higher than diet 1, 3 and 4 at both phases. In all, diet 2 compared favourably with the control diet. For economics of the diet; gross margin, cost per/kg weight gain, revenue, favoured diet 2 making it a choice diet ><0.05) for total feed intake (1689.50^a, 1496.00^b 150320b 1618.40ab) mean daily feed intake (60.34^a,63.53^b,53.69^b, 57.80^ab) and mean daily weight gain (36.30^a,34.53^ab307.3^bc26.62^c) at the starter phase and only on feed conversion ratio (3.24^ab, 2.79^b , 328^ab ,4.25^a) at the finisher phase for each treatments (T₁— T₄) respectively. The finally weight gain (2291.70) and the total weight gain (2252.20) supported diet 2 which was numerically higher than diet 1, 3 and 4 at both phases. In all, diet 2 compared favourably with the control diet. For economics of the diet; gross margin, cost per/kg weight gain, revenue, favoured diet 2 making it a choice diet