Effects of Orange - Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) - Meal on the Growth and Carcass Weight of Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus) Produced in Asaba Delta State Nigeria
Abstract
Poultry farming is facing a lot of difficulties presently in the country mainly due to high cost of feeds and other factors. This study set out to establish the effects of orange fleshed sweet potato(OFSP)- meal on the growth and carcass weight of Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus) produced in Asaba –Delta State, Nigeria. The study was an experimental study of two groups: Experimental group and control group for ten weeks. At the beginning of the experiment, the whole birds (100 birds) were fed with broiler starter mash until the fourth week when they were divided into two groups: Group A (the experimental Group of 50 birds) and the Group B (the control Group of 50 birds), after which their weights were taken. Ten (10) birds were randomly picked from each group and their weights recorded. From the 5th week to the 10th week the birds in Group A were fed with OFSP-meal to 70% broiler finisher. Group B birds were fed with normal broiler finisher and at the end of the 10th week, the weights recorded. From the 5th week to the 10th week, the birds in Group A were fed with OFSP-meal mixed with broiler finisher compounded to the ratio of 3:7, that is, 30% OFSP-meal to 70% broiler finisher. Group B birds were fed with normal broiler finisher at the end of the 10th week, the weights and carcass weights of the birds were taken. The results shewed that the mean weights of the birds in the experimental group (3.85kg) compared favorably with the average generally accepted weight of the bird’s specie (Rhode Island Red) of 3.90kg. What this means is that OFSP-meal can be used as a source of non-cereal energy sources complement in poultry feeds. This is good news for poultry farmers. The study among others recommended that the Government should promulgate the sweet potato –flour policy requiring feed millers to incorporate OFSP-meal/flour in their feed formulation.
