final year special project 2017

1. SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL, AQUACULTURE AND RANGE SCIENCES
BSc. ANIMAL SCIENCE
TITLE: EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTION OF SWEET POTATO LEAF MEAL FOR
SUNFLOWER SEED CAKE ON GROWTH PERFOMANCE OF
BROILER CHICKENS.
NAME OF STUDENT: NJUU, Aristides. R
REGISTRATION NUMBER: ANS/D/2014/0064
RESEARCH PROJECT II
RESEARCH PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE MOROGORO TANZANIA.
UNDER SUPERVISION OF Prof. A. KATULE
1

2. JUNE, 2017
2

3. ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to determine the effect of substituting sweet potato leaf meal for
sunflower seed cake on growth performance of broiler chickens. Rations containing five
levels of substitution of sweet potato leaf meal for sunflower seed cake were offered to
five groups of chickens (i.e. 10 chickens per treatment with two replicate).Total of 50
broiler chickens were assigned randomly to five dietary treatments, each dietary treatment
had two replicates of five broilers each. During the experiment weight gain and feed intake
were recorded weekly. Data obtained was analysed by using Statistical Analysis System
(SAS). The laboratory chemical composition of sweet potato leaf meal used in experiment
showed that the leaf meal contained %CF 10.35 , %EE 1.66 , %ASH 14.75, %DM 92.17
and % CP 22.85 .The results on cumulative weight gain revealed that there were
significant differences (p<0.05) among diets. The cumulative weekly weight gain were
879.19g,785.82 ,653.81g, 512.19g and 546.77g for dietary treatment (T1,T2,T3,T4 and
T5) respectively. The daily feed intake were also determined from week 4th
to week 6th
and
the results on cumulative feed intake showed that there were significant differences
(P<0.05) between T1 and T3, T1 and T4, T1 and T5,T2 and T5 while for T1 and T2, T2
and T3,T2 and T4 there were no significant differences (P>0.05). Also there were no
significant differences in the FCR between dietary treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) but T5
was significantly different from all other treatments. From the present study it was
concluded that sweet potato leaf meal can be used in broiler chickens diets as protein
source to substitute sunflower seed cake to promote growth performance at ratio of 80%
sunflower seed cake and 20%sweet potato leaf meal.
i

4. DECLARATION
I, NJUU, ARISTIDES .R hereby declare that to the best of my knowledge, this report is
my own work and has not been submitted for a degree award at any higher learning
institution.
Student name………………………………………………………………………………..
Signature…………………………………………. Date……………………….
Supervisor name……………………………………………………………………………
Signature…………………………………………. Date……………………….
ii

5. COPYRIGHT
No part of this special project may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying or
otherwise without the written permission of the author or Sokoine University of
Agriculture on my behalf.
iii

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to express my gratitude to the people who in one way or another contributing to
successful completion of this special project report for the partial fulfilment of
undergraduate degree program at SUA. Initially I would like to thank the Almighty God
who has been with me and gave me a good health throughout my study, then I am giving
my appreciation of kindness to Prof. A. KATULE who was my supervisor for giving his
time and creative ideas, suggestions and constructive critisms that led to successful
completion of this work .I thank him to his patience and assistance in directing me
throughout the entire research period. Special thanks to Higher Education loan Board
(HESLB) for sponsoring my special project research and entire study period. I am also
grateful to the laboratory technicians of the Department of Animal Science and Production
(DASP) for doing chemical analysis of the samples.
My heartfelt thanks are to my parents; my father Raphael. E. Njuu and my mother Suzan
Raphael Njuu for their moral and spiritual support, their guidance and wisdom have made
me the person I am today.
Finally my sincere thank go to all the DAARAS academic stuffs for their cooperation, my
colleague students for their support and inspirational word I do not have anything to repay
you but may almighty God bless you all.
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7. DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to my young brother Doto, Musa Gese and my beloved parents, my
father Mr Raphael. E. Njuu and my mother Suzan Raphael, my brothers Deo, Denis,
Joseph and my sister Merry Njuu.
v

8. TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................................i
DECLARATION.................................................................................................................ii
COPYRIGHT.....................................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...............................................................................................iv
DEDICATION.....................................................................................................................v
TABLE OF CONTENTS...................................................................................................vi
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................viii
LIST OF APPENDICES....................................................................................................ix
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................x
CHAPTER ONE..................................................................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................1
1.1 Background information..................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem and justification......................................................................2
1.3 Objectives........................................................................................................................2
1.3.1 General Objective...................................................................................................2
1.3.2 Specific Objectives.................................................................................................2
CHAPTER TWO.................................................................................................................4
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................4
2.1 Nutrient requirements of broiler chickens.......................................................................4
2.1.1 Nutritive value of sunflower seed cake....................................................................4
2.1.2 Sweet potato leaf meal in broiler diet......................................................................5
2.1.3 Summary from literature review..............................................................................5
CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................6
3.0 MATERIAL AND METHOD.......................................................................................6
3.1 Location of the experiment..............................................................................................6
3.2 Experimental layout and data collection.........................................................................6
3.3 Experimental diets and their preparations.......................................................................6
3.4 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS............................................................................................9
4.0 RESULTS........................................................................................................................9
vi

9. 4.1 The laboratory chemical analysis of sweet potato leaf meal...........................................9
4.2 Feed intake......................................................................................................................9
4.3 Growth performance......................................................................................................10
4.4 Feed conversion ratio....................................................................................................11
4.5 Cost of feed....................................................................................................................11
CHAPTER FIVE...............................................................................................................13
5.0 DISCUSSION...............................................................................................................13
CHAPTER SIX..................................................................................................................14
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................14
6.1 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................14
6.2 Recommendations.........................................................................................................14
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................15
APPENDICES.....................................................................................................................17
vii

10. LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Comparative chemical compositions of sweet potato leaf meal (%
DM) and sunflower seed cake................................................................................5
Table 2: Gross composition of experimental diets................................................................7
Table 3: Calculated nutrient composition of diets with varying levels of
substitution of sweet potato leaf meal for sunflower seed cake.............................8
Table 4: Chemical compositions of sweet potato leaf meal (% DM)....................................9
Table 5: Least square means for intake of broiler chickens summarized by
treatment levels....................................................................................................10
Table 6: Least square means for body weight of broiler chickens summarized
by treatment levels................................................................................................11
Table 7: Least square means for feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens
summarized by treatment levels...........................................................................11
Table 8: Feed cost................................................................................................................12
viii

11. LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1: ANOVAsummary for body weights gain statistics........................................17
Appendix 2: ANOVAsummary for feed intake statistics....................................................18
Appendix 3: ANOVAsummary for feed conversion ratio statistics....................................18
Appendix 4: Shows the feeding cost broiler chickens on diets containing
various levels of sweet potato leaf meal as replacement for
sunflower seed cake.........................................................................................18
ix

12. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
FCR feed conversion ratio
AFCR Average feed conversion ratio
DM Dry matter
CP Crude protein
EE Ether extract
CF Crude fiber
T1 Treatment one
T2 Treatment two
T3 Treatment three
T4 Treatment four
T5 Treatment five
ANOVA Analysis of Variance
SAS Statistical Analysis System
DAARS Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range sciences
x

13. CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background information
Broiler chickens (Gallus domesticus), are bred and raised specifically for meat production.
Generally broiler chickens production are enterprises that growing faster in Tanzania and
worldwide due to artificial selection for rapid early growing. Typically broilers have white
feathers and yellowish skin. There are "Many studies showed that using different protein
sources as supplements in broiler rations increased performance and meat production (Aftahi
et al., 2006). Protein supplements in poultry feed can be divided to proteins from animal
sources and proteins from plant sources (Abro et al., 2012).
The main sources of plant proteins used in broiler feed are soya bean meal, sunflower seed
cake and cottonseed (Anwar et al., 2008), while the most sources of animal proteins used in
broiler feeds are fish meal, and bone meal (Dat & Yu, 2003). Broiler chickens play an
important role as a leading market in the poultry industry [ CITATION FAO09 l 2057 ] and in
human nutrition by providing lean and healthy meat for protein. It is therefore, of more
significance to satisfy the nutrient requirements of broilers in order to ensure optimal
productivity (Klasing et al., 2000). This may ultimately require increased inclusion levels of
high quality protein sources such as soya bean meal, fish meal and sunflower meal especially
in the starter and finisher phases of broiler chickens. However, the continuous demands for
high quality proteins in broiler diets posses some challenges which may include “the
competition between humans and animals for the same protein sources and the increased
demand for renewable protein resources in animal nutrition” (Pretorius, 2011).
The commercial poultry production is also facing major challenges such as high costs and
shortage of feed stuffs mainly the protein sources like soya bean meal and fish meal
[ CITATION Ade07 l 2057 ] cotton seed cake and sunflower seed cake. These challenges
may, however, be overcomed by using leaf meal such as sweet potatoes leaf meal as a protein
source in broiler diets Le Van An (2004) also conclude that dried leaves of sweet potato can
be considered as valuable protein source in the form of fresh, dried or silage. Sweet potato
leaves have high content of protein ranges from 24-29% CP (Nguyen Thi Thuy and ogle
2004).
1

14. 1.2 Statement of the problem and justification
The commonly ingredients used in poultry feed are energy source examples maize meal,
maize bran also protein source examples cotton seed cake, sunflower seed cake, blood meal
fish meal and mineral examples limestone, bone meal, salt and premix, energy source help in
activities of the body like metabolism and movement while protein help in growth of poultry
and minerals help in bone formation but deficient of some of this ingredient may lead to poor
production, stunted growth, and bones problem.
Protein sources are the most expensive ingredients in livestock diets, also are less available in
some area of the country so this may lead increase cost of livestock production especially
broiler production. However, common protein sources are limited to few ingredients include
sunflower seed cake, cotton seed cake, soya meal and fish meal. So it is crucial to identify
sources of protein that is commonly available and very cheap to poultry farmers so as to
increase income from broiler production. Leaf meals could offer opportunity for providing
cheap protein to poultry.
Possible leaf meal that can be used as source of protein in poultry diet are leucaena
leucocephala, Moringa oleifera and Ipomea batatas (sweet potato) leaf meal both of these
leaf meal offer protein in broiler diet but disadvantage of this contain anti nutritional factor
like mimosine in leucaena leucocephala and phyate and oxalate in Moringa olifera but
protease inhibitor in sweet potato leaf meal this can be removed through drying compared
with sunflower seedcake which are more reached with high fiber content.
However, little research has been done to evaluate the effects of replacing protein (sunflower
seed cake) with sweet potato leaf meal on growth performance of broiler chickens, hence the
need for this proposed study.
1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 General Objective
To study the effects of substituting sweet potato leaf meal for sunflower seed cake on growth
performance of broiler chickens.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
1. To determine the effect of substituting sweet potato leaf meal on growth rate of broilers.
2

15. 2. To determine feed intake of broiler chickens fed on diet containing various levels of
sweet potato leaf meal.
3. To determine feed conversion ratio of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing
various levels of sweet potato leaf meal.
4. To determine the cost of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing various levels of
sweet potato leaf meal as replacement for sunflower seed cake.
3

16. CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Nutrient requirements of broiler chickens
According to Leeson and summers (2001), nutrient requirement is the minimum quantity of
the nutrient needed by animals to maximise growth and utilization efficiency as well as to
improve meat quality. The high rate of productivity in poultry results in relatively high
nutrient needs. Proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are utilised as the sources of metabolic
machinery and are essential requirements for growth and energy. Growth involves deposition
of bones, muscle and fat with each trait showing an individual pattern of development
(Carlson, 2009).
There is a need to formulate diets which fulfils all the nutrient requirements, including
limiting essential amino acid for growth. Chickens need protein for growth, meat and egg
production. Protein deficiency in a feed results in reduced broiler growth performance
(Chinrasri, 2004). This is mainly because feeding broilers with diets below their energy or
protein requirements has a negative influence on growth and nutrient efficiency.
2.1.1 Nutritive value of sunflower seed cake
The nutrient content of sunflower seeds depends on the variety and growing conditions, which
in turn affect the nutrient content of the sunflower seed cake produced after oil extraction. The
method of oil extraction also affects the nutrient content of sunflower seed meal. Solvent
extraction is a more effective method of oil extraction than mechanical extraction, yet it is
important to note that solvent-extracted sunflower seed cake cannot be used in organic poultry
diets (United States Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2000). The screw-press extraction
method results in a high-oil sunflower seed meal (San Juan and Villamide, 2001). When
feeding broiler breeder pullets, feed restriction is often used to prevent the pullets from
becoming obese. The use of high fiber diets has been shown to be equally as effective without
the need for strict feed restriction (Zacek et al., 2003). Sunflower seed meal can be used as a
source of fiber in such diets. Sunflower meal is one of the major protein sources in livestock
feed, especially dairy cattle, chickens and even pigs and rabbits. Chemical composition of
sunflower seed cake as shown by (Jabbar et al., 2008) revealed that it contains the CP 30.51%
also it contain 29-30% as shown by (Sci et al., 2011). One good characteristic of sunflower is
that it does not have any ingredients that affect nutrition in livestock, although its high fibre
4

17. and lignin tend to affect its digestibility. Besides, sunflower is a good source of calcium,
phosphorus and B vitamins.
2.1.2 Sweet potato leaf meal in broiler diet
According the study done on Sweet potato leaf meal in broiler diet, 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. Le Van An (2004) also conclude that dried leaves of sweet potato can be
considered as valuable protein source in the form of fresh, dried or silage and can replace
groundnut cake in ratio. Teguia et al. (1997) reported similar results regarding the crude
protein content of dried leaves of sweet potato.
Table 1: Comparative chemical compositions of sweet potato leaf meal (% DM) and
sunflower seed cake
Chemical composition Sweet potato leaf meal (%)
*
sunflower seed cake
(%) **
Dry matter (DM) 91.03 92.7
Crude protein (CP) 25-29 24-30
Ether extract (EE) 3.37 3.08
Ash 13.15 4.98
Calcium (Ca) 2.10 0.35
Phosphorus (P) 0.30 0.3
ME MJ/Kg 11.18 7.4
*Le Van An (2004). **Fialho et al. (1995)
2.1.3 Summary from literature review
The high rate of productivity in broiler chickens results in relatively high nutrient needs.
There is a need to formulate diets which fulfils all the nutrient requirements, including
limiting essential amino acid for growth. Sunflower seed cake is the one of the major protein
source in poultry diet having a CP content of 24-29% but due to high cost of this ingredient
sweet potato leaf meal can be an alternative source of protein to replace sunflower seed cake
because it contain the CP of 24% similar to that of sunflower with low cost.
5

18. CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIAL AND METHOD
3.1 Location of the experiment
The study was carried out in Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences
(DAARAS) poultry unit, the unit is under the control of the department of (DAARAS),
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. The university is located
between 60
and 7° S and 37o
and 38° E and altitude of 500 to 600 m above sea level, 3 km far
away from Morogoro town the area receives an average annual rainfall of between 600 to
1000 mm.
3.2 Experimental layout and data collection
A total of 50 day old broiler chicks were taken from interchicks company in Kibaha to
poultry unit then were reared for six weeks and broiler starter was fed to them, during the first
three weeks, followed by broiler finisher diet for the remain three week. Vaccination against
Newcastle diseases and Gumboro was done at the third day of the first week and second week
of age accordingly.
Chicks were divided into the group of 10 contain 5 chicks and assigned randomly to five
dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The compositions of each dietary
treatment are shown in table 2. Then birds were weighed before fed with experimental diets
and weighed after every week up to the end of the experiment.
3.3 Experimental diets and their preparations
Sweet potato leaf meal was obtained from Marangu found in Kilimanjaro region. When the
tuber matured for human consumption the leaves of sweet potato was cut and sun dried for
two to three days on plastic sheet laid on concentrate floor. The leaf of sweet potato was
separated from stem before drying. The dried leaves was ground using motor and pestle to get
sweet potato leaf meal which was used for feed compounding. Sunflower seed cakes, maize
bran, fish meal, bone meal, limestone, mineral-vitamin premixes and salt was purchased from
agrovety shop, milling machines, and common shops which are found in Morogoro
Municipality. After collected and prepared of all raw materials mentioned above the treatment
diets were formulated as shown in Table 2.
6

19. The study conducted to determine the performance of broiler birds fed different levels of
sweet potato leaf meal (SPLM). The levels of sweet potato meal in the different treatment
rations which include 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80%.
Table 2: Gross composition of experimental diets
Level of substitution of sunflower by potato leaf meal
FEED RATIONS 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Maize bran 20 20 20 20 20
Maize meal 40 40 40 40 40
fish meal 4 4 4 4 4
Cotton seed cake 6 6 6 6 6
Sunflower seed cake 20 16 12 8 4
Sweet potato leaf
meal
0 4 8 12 16
Blood meal 5 5 5 5 5
Bone meal 2 2 2 2 2
Limestone 1 1 1 1 1
Premix 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Salt 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
DCP 1 1 1 1 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100
7

20. Table 3: Calculated nutrient composition of diets with varying levels of substitution of
sweet potato leaf meal for sunflower seed cake
Levels of substitution and nutrient composition
NUTRIENT
0 20 40 60 80
Metab. Energy (MJ/kg) 11.29 11.44 11.59 11.75 11.89
Crude protein (%) 19.33 19.37 19.41 19.45 19.54
Lysine 1.18 1.11 1.04 0.97 0.91
Methionine 0.59 0.53 0.47 0.41 0.35
Meth + Cysteine 0.86 0.78 0.70 0.62 0.54
Calcium 1.27 1.34 1.41 1.48 1.55
Phosphorus 0.83 0.79 0.77 0.74 0.70
The variables that were measured to determine the growth performance of broilers.
Growth rate
Initial weight and final weight of different age group from fourth week of age to six week of
age were weighed in grammes, and their differences were the growth rate calculated.
Formula: growth rate = Final weight (g). - Initial weight (g).
Feed intake
The feed intake (FI) was determined as the difference between the amounts of feed provide
and feed left by the chickens using the following formula;
Formula: Feed intake = Feed given (DM) –Feed left (DM)
Feed conversion ratio
8

21. The average daily gain in gram and feed intake was used to calculate feed conversion ratio.
Formula: feed conversion ratio = Average daily gain/ Feed intake.
Feed cost Total amount feed consumed and the price of feed per kg was used to calculate the
feed cost. i.e feed cost = Total feed consumed x Price of feed per kg.
3.4 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Data obtained were analysed by using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) at 5% level of
significance.
Statistical model
Yijk=µ +Ti + Rij + Eijk
Where;
Yijk=Observation on the kth
bird from jth
replication receiving the ith
treatment.
µ = Overall mean.
Ti = Effect of the ith
treatment.
Rij=Effect of the jth
replication within the ith
treatment
Eijk =Random effects peculiar to each observation.
4.0 RESULTS
4.1 The laboratory chemical analysis of sweet potato leaf meal
The sweet potato leaf meal showed to have high dry matter percept with high crude protein,
little amount of ether extract ,high ash content which reflect high calcium also crude protein
was high.
Table 4: Chemical compositions of sweet potato leaf meal (% DM)
Chemical composition Sweet potato leaf meal (%)
Dry matter (DM) 92.17
Crude protein (CP) 22.85
Ether extract (EE) 1.66
Ash 14.75
Crude fiber 10.35
4.2 Feed intake
There were significant differences (P<0.05) in cumulative feed intake broiler chickens among
the dietary treatments as shown in table Appendix 2 ANOVA summary for feed intake of
broiler chickens, the significant differences were observed between treatments (T1,T2,T3,T4
9

22. and T5) as shown in Table 5 below of least square means for intake of broilers in week 4.week
5 the feed intake was no significant differences between dietary treatments (T1,T2 and T3)
but also no significant differences between dietary treatments (T4 and T5) also in Week 6 no
significant differences between dietary treatments(T1,T2 and T3) but T4 and T5 significant
differences were observed in feed intake but generally the cumulative feed intake T1 and T2
there were no significant differences but also T2 ,T3 and T4 no significance difference was
observed but T5 significant differences was observed from all other treatments as shown on
table 5 of least square means for intake of broiler chickens summarized by treatment levels.
Table 5: Least square means for intake of broiler chickens summarized by treatment
levels
TREATMENT LEVELS
Variables
1(0%) 2(20%) 3(40%) 4(60%) 5(80%) Significance
Intake at 4 week 358.74±2.27a
353.55±2.27b
352.38±2.27c
334.25±2.27d
318.26±2.27e
***
Intake at 5 week 418.42±4.12a
412.22±4.12a
406.18±4.12a
381.09±4.12b
379.74±4.12b
***
Intake at 6 week 572.02±2.6a
566.78±2.6a
566.78±2.6 a
520.25±2.6b
546.74±2.6c
***
Cumm.intake 1349.18±5.2a
1332.54±5.2ab
1325.01±5.2bc
1235.59±5.2b
1244.38.74±5.2c
**
The means with same superscript within the same row are not significantly differently P>0.05
4.3 Growth performance
Body weight gain
There were significant differences (p<0.05) in cumulative body weight gain of broiler
chickens among the dietary treatments as shown in for least square means for body weights
table 6 below and ANOVAsummary for body weights gain Appendix 1. The body weight gain
in week 4 of the dietary treatment (T1) was significant different from dietary treatments (T3,
T4 and T5) (p<0.05) and also no significant differences with treatments (T2 and T1). Week 5
dietary treatments (T1 and T3) were no significant differences in body weight of broiler
chickens also T2 and T4 were no significant differences but dietary treatments (T5 and T4)
showed no significant differences from dietary treatments as shown in Table 3 below of least
square means of body weight of broiler chickens summarized by treatment levels. Week 6
10

23. treatments (T3 and T4) were no significance in dietary treatments but differ from dietary
treatments (T1, T2 and T5).
11

24. Table 6: Least square means for body weight of broiler chickens summarized by
treatment levels.
TREATMENT LEVELS
Variables
1 2 3 4 5 Significance
Weight at 4 week 471.92±14.28c
452.82±15.06bc
419.39±14.19ab
416.39±14.57ab
408.57±15.04a
***
Weight at 5 week 771.99±23.7c
680.56±25.09b
728±16.23.65c
613.23±24.27ab
568.79±25.07a
***
Weight at 6 week 406.91±0.8d
405.97±21.98c
228.37±72a
199.68±21.26a
278.69±21.96b
***
Cumm.wt Gain 879±29.7d
785.8±31.46c
653.8±29.65b
512.19±30.4a
546.77.74±31.43a
**
The means with same superscript within the row are not significantly differently P>0.05
4.4 Feed conversion ratio
There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in feed conversion ratio of dietary treatments
(T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) as shown in Table 7 below
Table 7: Least square means for feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens summarized
by treatment levels
TREATMENT LEVELS
Variables
1 2 3 4 5 Significance
FCR at 4 week 2.1±0.47a
2.56±0.48a
2.97±0.48a
2.63±0.48a
3.12±31.04a
NS
FCR at 5 week 1.4±0.65a
1.87±0.65a
1.96±0.65a
1.96±0.65a
3.03±0.96a
NS
FCR at 6 week 1.66±0.32a
2.21±0.32a
2.2±0.32a
2.2±0.31a
2.67±0.32a
NS
AFCR 1.72±0.48 2.21±0.48 2.37±0.48 2.26±0.47 2.94±10.5 NS
The means with same superscript within the row are not significantly differently P>0.05
4.5. Cost of feed
There were diffences in cost of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing various levels of
sweet potato leaf meal as replacement for sunflower seed cake were T1 cost 21848/=, T2 cost
21000/=, T3 cost 20936/=, T4 cost 20936/= and T5 cost 20936/= as shown in Appendix 4 this
cost were for 24kg for each dietary treatment formulated so each cost of dietary treatment I
divided them for 24kg to get the price of one kg as shown in Table 8.
Table 8: Feed cost
12

25. Treatments cost of 1kg weight gain weight of feed used cost of feed
T1 910.33 879.19 1349.18 1228.19
T2 875 785.82 1332.54 1165.97
T3 872.33 653.81 1325.01 1155.84
T4 872.33 512.19 1235.59 1077.49
T5 872.33 546.77 1244.39 1085.51
13

26. CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 DISCUSSION
The laboratory chemical composition of sweet potato leaf meal showed that the leaf meal
contain %CF 10.35 ,%EE 1.66 ,%ASH 14.75, %DM 92.17 and % CP 22.85 which was quite
different from %CF 8.41 ,%EE 3.37 ,%ASH 13.15, %DM 91.03 and % CP 25.00 reported by
Le Van (2004) in Cameroon and also CP content was quite different from 25 to 29% CP
reported by (Hong 2003) in Vietnam it shows that there was slight difference in chemical
composition as reported by Le Van (2004) probably due to different in soil type, climatic
condition, presence of nutrient in the soil like nitrogen and the stage of harvesting the leaf.
The result showed that significant difference were observed between treatments(T1,T2,T3,T4
and T5) as shown in Table 2 least square means for intake this was due to that when
increasing the level of sweet potato leaf meal it tend to decrease palatability of the diet since
the dried leaves of sweet potato produce unfavourable smell which lower intake as reported
by Teguia et al (1993),also the diet contain high percent sweet potato leaf meal have low ether
extract and ether extract reflect the amount of fat which trigger flavour and taste and hence
the low ether extract of sweet potato leaf meal lower the intake.
The relationship between sweet potato leaf meal inclusion level of weekly live weight gain
were significant differences as shown in Table3 The study showed that as increased the level
dried leaf of sweet potato meal above 20% there were decrease in body weight gain and the
probable reasons of decrease body weight gain was due to increase of unfavourable smell in
the diet which made the chicken to decrease intake also sweet potato leaf meal have deficient
in lysine which is the building block of protein which is used to enhance growth so as
increased sweet potato leaf meal the amount of amino acid especially lysine was lowed and
hence lower the body weight of broilers.
There were diffences in cost of feeding broiler chickens on diets containing various levels of
sweet potato leaf meal as replacement for sunflower seed cake were T1 cost 21848/=, T2 cost
21000/=, T3 cost 20936/=, T4 cost 20936/= and T5 cost 20936/= this cost were for 24kg for
each dietary treatment formulated as shown in table Appendix 4. The slight difference due to
availability of this experimental diet since sunflower was purchased from agrovety shops but
14

27. sweet potato were obtained freely but it involve the cost of harvesting in which each kg cost
200Tsh.
CHAPTER SIX
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Conclusion
Inclusion of sweet potato leaf meal in broiler chickens diets improve feed intake, growth
performance and it is cost effectively. From the present study it can be concluded that sweet
potato leaf meal can be used in broiler chickens diets as protein source to substitute sunflower
seed cake.
6.2 Recommendations
Farmers may use sweet potato leaf meal to replace sunflower seed cake in feeding broiler
chickens since both of these ingredients shown almost the same gain in weight however
further studies are required on the digestibility studies of the leaf meal and higher inclusion
level of sweet potato leaf meal can be used to substitute sunflower seed cake up to 20% in
finisher ration resulted in similar nutrient and live weight gain of finisher chicks and this level
can be considered as a good inclusion with less effect on dry matter intake and body weight
gain performance of chickens.
15

28. REFERENCES
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29. Jabbar, M., Ahmad, S. and Riffat, S. (2008). Effect of replacing cottonseed cake with
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the welfare of female broiler breeders. British Poultry Science 44: 30 – 31.
17

30. APPENDICES
Appendix 1: ANOVAsummary for body weights gain statistics
Variable effects statistical test
Weight at 4 week treatment *
Replicate *
Treatment*replicate *
Initial weight ***
Weight at 5 week treatment ***
Replicate NS
Treatment*replicate **
Initial weight ***
Weight at 6 week treatment ***
Replicate NS
Treatment*replicate NS
Initial weight ***
Cumulative weight gain treatment ***
Replicate NS
Treatment*replicate NS
Initial weight NS
KEY:
*** Very Highly significant (p < 0.001)
** Highly significant (p < 0.01)
* Significantly (p < 0.05)
Ns Non significant (p > 0.05)
Appendix 2: ANOVAsummary for feed intake statistics
18

31. Variable effects statistical test
Intake at 4 week Treatment ***
Intake at 5 week Treatment **
Intake at 5 week Treatment ***
Appendix 3: ANOVAsummary for feed conversion ratio statistics
Variable effects statistical test
FCR at 4 week Treatment NS
FCR at 4 week Treatment NS
FCR at 4 week Treatment NS
AFCR Treatment NS
Appendix 4: Shows the feeding cost broiler chickens on diets containing various levels of
sweet potato leaf meal as replacement for sunflower seed cake
Ingredien
t
T1xprice(TShs) T2xprice(TShs) T3 x price (TShs) T4xprice(TShs) T5xprice(TShs)
Maize bran 4.8x450 = 2160 4.8x450=2160 4.8x450=2160 4.8x450=2160 4.8x450 = 2160
Maize meal 9.6x1200=11520 9.6x1200=11520 9.6x1200=11520 9.6x1200=11520 9.6x1200=11520
fish meal 0.96x2500=1152 0.96x2500=1152 0.96x2500=1152 0.96x2500=1152 0.96x2500=1152
Cotton seed
cake
1.44x1000=1440 1.44x1000=1440 1.44x1000=1440 1.44x1000=1440 1.44x1000=1440
Sunflower
seed cake
4.8x45 =2160 3.84x450=1728 1.92x450=864 2x450=900 0.96x450 =432
Sweet potato
leaf meal
0 x200 = 0 0.96x200=192 1.92x200=384 2.88x200=576 3.84x200=768
Blood meal 1.2x1500=1800 1.2x1500=1800 1.2x1500=1800 1.2x1500=1800 1.2x1500=1800
Bone meal 0.48x300= 144 0.48x300=144 0.48x300=144 0.48x300=144 0.48x300=144
Limestone 0.24x300= 72 0.24x300=72 0.24x300=72 0.24x300=72 0.24x300=72
Premix 0.12x3000= 360 0.12x3000=360 0.12x3000=360 0.12x3000=360 0.12x3000=360
Salt 0.5x400=200 0.5x400=200 0.5x400=200 0.5x400=200 0.5x400=200
DCP 0.24x3500=840 0.24x3500=840 0.24x3500=840 0.24x3500=840 0.24x3500=840
Total cost 21848/= 21000/= 20936/= 20936/= 20936/=
Where T1=0% T2=20% T3=40% T4=60% T5=80%
19