Effect of replacing maize with orange flesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) root on performances of White Leghorn hens

Beyenu Kebe, Meseret Girma and Yesihak Yusuf

School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P O Box 138, Dire-Dawa, Ethiopia
meseretgirma4@gmail.com

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding of orange flesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) root meal (IbRM) on White leghorn layers. Ninety six White leghorn (WL) layers were randomly distributed to four treatments, replicated three times in complete random design (CRD). The four treatment rations were formulated using IbRM as replacement for maize the level of IbRM0 (Control), IbRM5, IbRM10 and IbRM15 percent. Chickens fed on diet IbRM15 were significantly (p< 0.01) higher Daily feed intake than IbRM5 and IbRM10. Chickens on IbRM15 inclusion level had highest hen-day egg production among other treatments. The lowest value of feed conversion ratio recorded in inclusion of 15 and 10 IB which was one of the indicators of best performances compared to other treatments. The egg yolk color score increased was obtained when diets were inclusion with IBRM15 orange flesh sweet potato. Based on the result of the experiment, it can be concluded that IbRM inclusion at 15 % in the diet enhanced overall performance layers without adversely affecting egg quality.

Key words: orange flesh sweet potato root, egg quality

Introduction

Chicken meat and eggs have been suggested to fill the protein gap more than other animals due to their short generational gaps, high rates of productivity, quick turnover rates, higher feed efficiency and low labor and land requirements (Ojedapo et al 2008). Most Ethiopian depends on cereals as staple foods which are also required for poultry feeding. One of the major problems facing the poultry industry today is the high cost of feeds resulting from a shortage of high energy grains such as maize (Mmereole 2008). The grains are known to constitute 60-70% of the poultry diet (Mmereole 2009). An increase in the price of grains and the cost of producing poultry meat and eggs has resulted in increased price of chicken meat and egg (Aho 2007).

To compensate for this change, alternative feed ingredients need to be identified. Any new ingredients must be able to substitute for maize totally or partially and not have a negative impact on the efficiency or quality of poultry production (Ojewola et al 2006). The expected rising cost of maize due to reduced production and its variable use necessitate research to find cheaper and locally available non-conventional energy feed stuff such as orange flesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Orange flesh sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) (IbRM) is one of the most important crops in the world because of not only its considerable amount of nutrient, but also phytochemicals in its root. Sweet potato is highly adaptable and tolerates high temperatures, low soil fertility and drought (Laurie et al 2013). They have proved for their excellent bioactivities such as radical scavenging, ant hyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant activities, and chemo preventive activities (Kurata et al 2007). Depending on the orange flesh colour, sweet potatoes are rich in β-carotene, anthocyanin’s, total phenolic, dietary fibre, ascorbic acid, folic acid and minerals (Woolfe and Jennifer and Jennifer 1992). Dried sweet potato vines can be used in poultry rations as a source of protein and carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and xanthophyll which have been included in diet to enhance yellow pigmentation of broiler skins and egg yolks (Woolfe and Jennifer and Jennifer 1992). Non-conventional feedstuffs offer the best alternative for the reduction of feed cost and cost of animal products (Afolayan 2010). There is scant information on the effect of inclusion of IbRM in layers ration in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of substituting maize with different levels of IbRM on production and reproductive performance of white leghorn chickens.

Materials and methods

Description of the study area

The experiment was conducted at Haramaya University Poultry Farm. The University is located at 42° 3' E longitudes, 9° 26' N latitude and at an altitude of 1980 meters above sea level and about 505 km east of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The mean annual rainfall of the area is about 780 mm and the average minimum and maximum temperatures are 8 and 24 °C, respectively (Mishra et al 2004).

Feed ingredients and experimental rations

Orange flesh sweet potato root was purchased from Haramaya University farm. Whole fresh orange flesh sweet potato was washed and cut in to small pieces, then spread on plat form (canvas) under the sun for five days. The sun dry sweet potato root was processed into meal by grinding at Haramaya University feed mill. The experimental rations were formulated with 2800-2900 kcal ME/kg DM and 16-17% CP to meet the nutrient requirements of layers (NRC 1994).

Experimental birds and management

A total thirty two week of age 108 White Leghorn were randomly grouped into 12 pens (96 layers and 12 cocks) and allotted to the four treatments. The experiment was last for 90 days. Deep litter material of about 7cm depth was used in each pen. Each replicate was kept in 2 by 2- meter pens partitioned by wire mesh. Before the actual data collection, the birds were acclimatized for one week. The experimental pens, watering, feeding troughs, and laying nests were carefully cleaned and disinfected. The chickens were provided the experimental ration and water on ad libtum basis. Each pen was equipped with laying nest, deep litter housing system was used and 14hr light provided per day.

Data collection and parameters evaluation

The collected data were on feed intake, body weight gain, egg production, egg weight and egg mass, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg quality were collected for this study.

Egg quality parameters

Egg quality was evaluated in terms of albumen quality (albumen height and albumen weight), yolk quality (yolk height, yolk weight, yolk diameter, yolk colour, and yolk index), external quality of shell weight and thickness, and Haugh Unit Score (HUS). A total of 144 eggs were used for quality analysis that means 36 eggs per treatment or 12 eggs per replication were randomly taken every two week for successive four times. Albumen of each egg was measured with a tripod micrometre and the average Haugh Unit value for each replicate was calculated by using the formula (Haugh 1937).

Haugh Unit (HU) =100 x log (H-1.7W^0.37+7.6)

Where, H= albumen height (mm)

W= weight of egg (g)

The mean for each replicate was calculated by taking the average reading from the three sample eggs. Yolk index was also computed used the following formula.

Results and discussion

Chemical composition of feeds

The results of laboratory analysis for the different feed ingredients and experiment rations were shown in Tables 2 and 3. Laboratory result showed that the energy content of orange flesh sweet potato root meal (Ib) and maize was 3655.198 and 3602.13 kcal/kg, respectively. This makes Orange flesh sweet potato root to be an effective energy feed and a good potential substitution for maize in layers ration which was in agreement with the finding of Ravindran and Blair (1991) who noted that sweet potato has comparable energy to maize in poultry diets.

Feed intake

The effect of different replacement levels of orange flesh sweet potato root meal for maize on feed intake of layers was shown in Table 4. The result showed that feed intake was affected (p< 0.01) by treatment. Accordingly, replacing of orange flesh sweet potato root meal with maize has improved feed intake in IbRM15 as compared to the other. Higher feed intake was recorded by IbRM15 followed by IbRM10, IbRM5 and IbRM0 . This indicates that the sweetness and low crude fibre of Ib has played a positive role in improving intake of diets containing IbRM, considering the fact that the diet without IbRM replacing was the least consumed during all period. This result is in agree with the findings of Afolayan et al (2012) who reported significant difference in feed intake within groups fed different inclusion levels 15%-30% of sweet potato root meal for maize in the broiler ration. This result is also in agreement with the experiment conducted by Mosebework et al (2018) indicated that substitution of orange fleshed sweet potato root meal for maize by 12% and 16% at starter and 15% and 20% levels at grower phases have enhanced feed intake chickens. The study of Hossain et al (2013) who reported increased feed intake with increasing level of cassava root meal as a substitute for maize. Also, this result agreed with that recorded by (Okon et al 2007) who reported boiled sun-dried taro could replace up to 50% of maize in the diets of Japanese laying quails. Significantly higher intake in birds fed ration containing 15% of orange flesh sweet potato root meal.

Body weight change

The initial and final body weights of laying hens were not significantly deferent ( p >0.05) among all dietary treatment groups (Table 4). This result was agree with those Muhammad et al (2012) who report non-significant even at 80% level of replacement of maize with sweet potato meal for broilers. This result was, however, contrary to the report of Maphosa et al (2003) and Afolayan et al (2012) who reported on broilers. This result was also contradicts the reports by Udedibie et al (2008) and Enyenihi et al (2009) on body weight changes of laying hens fed cassava tuber meal-based diets.

Egg production

It was observed that replacing orange flesh sweet potato with maize for the layer ration was significantly increases (p< 0.01) egg production, (Table 4 and Figure 1). Replacing OFSPR by maize had reliable effect on egg production of laying hens. HDEP and HHEP were highly increased in IbRM15 followed by 10, 5 and 0% IbRM, whereas 5 and 0% IbRM were significantly similar. Egg production might have been enhanced by the presence of some excellent bioactivities such as radical scavenging, hepatoprotective, antioxidant activities and chemo preventive activities (Kurata et al 2007) and number of valuable nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, lipid, minerals, vitamins, β-carotene, anthocyanin’s, total phenolic, dietary fibre, ascorbic acid and folic acid) contained in the root which improves the health status as well as reproductive performances of birds and could have thus increase egg production (Woolfe and Jennifer 1992).

This result agree with the finding of Ladokun et al (2007) who reported that inclusion 15% level of sweet potato layer diets to not have any adverse effect on production performance. Similarly better egg production was obtained by inclusion of sweet potato meal up to 20% as a replacement for maize increased HDEP as compared to 30% and 40% diets in white leghorn layers Afolayan et al (2013) which could be due to the effect of anti-nutritional factors at higher levels of sweet potato inclusion in the layers diet lower egg production. When maize was replaced with 75 percent cassava tuber meal in the diet, showed a greater HDEP (Enyenihi et al 2009). According to Akinola and Oruwari (2007) reported an increase in egg production as the level increased up to 25% of cassava meal in the layers diets. According to Kyawt et al (2014) found that inclusion of 17.2% of cassava meal in diets for laying hens had no adverse effect on production performances. This result similar with the finding Uchegbu et al (2011) who report increased HDEP and HHEP when layers were fed cassava root meal at dietary inclusion rates of 15% to replace maize. Figure 1 showed that chicken fed on the T4 diet was reached high egg production starting from week three and peak level at about week ten.

Figure 1. Weekly average hen-day egg production of white leghorn chicken fed diet containing different levels of orange flesh sweet potato root meal IbRM

Egg weight and egg mass

The effect of replacement of various levels of IbRM in the layers ration on egg weight and egg mass was presented in Table 4. There was no significant ( p > 0.05) difference in egg weight among the treatments. Similarity, the finding Aina and Fanimo (1997) who reported that egg weight was not significantly affected by consumed up to 30% level of sweet potato meal diets. This result was agree with those reported by Ladokun et al (2007) who observed egg weight was not significantly affected for laying chicken fed up to 25% sweet potato meal diets. Egg weights were also not affected when cassava fufu meal or sun-dried cassava tuber meal were used to replace maize in laying diets (Udedibie et al 2008; Enyenihi et al 2009). Egg mass per hen was higher significantly (p< 0.01) for hens fed IbRM15 compared to the other group whereas IbRM5 and IbRM0 significantly similar. This might be due to the availability of large number of nutrients (minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates) from the sweet potato roots that have resulted in better reproductive performance and egg production (Woolfe and Jennifer and Jennifer 1992).

Feed conversion ratio

The result of replacement varying levels of IbRM in layers ration on feed conversion ratio is presented in Table 4 and Figure 2. The feed conversion ratio differs significantly (p< 0.01). among treatments from 5.85% to 4.24% and numerically higher in 0% IbRM and the lower recorded in 15% IbRM whereas; 0 and 5% also 10 and 15% IbRM were statistically similar The variation in feed conversion ratio of the current study was mainly due to egg production increment. Birds’ exhibited lower FCR and higher egg production are considered as efficient in nutrient utilization. This finding is disagree with that recorded by Ayuk Essien (2009) who reported that inclusion of sweet potato tuber meal depressed feed use efficiency, but associated it to decreased body weight gain as compared to the present result. This result was similar with Beckford and Bartlett (2015) who reported addition of different level of sweet potato root meal in broiler chicken diet has positive effect on the average daily intake and feed conversion ratio of chickens. This result was also similar with Afolayan et al (2012) who report broiler chicks on the sweet potato meal diets were significantly better feed converters.

Figure 2. Feed conversion ratio of white leghorn chicken fed diet containing different levels of orange flesh sweet potato root meal

The mean values of albumen, yolk and shell weight are shown in Table 5. The replacing of orange flesh sweet potato root meal with maize in the diet of laying hens no had significant effect on egg and yolk weight. The replacing of orange flesh sweet potato root meal with maize had significantly (p< 0.05) greater Albumen weight and shell weight. Albumen weight IbRM15 significantly higher than IbRM 5 and IbRM 0 and shell weight IbRM15 significantly higher than IbRM5. This result were agree with the finding those reported by Mihret, (2012) who observed improve egg quality parameters for birds fed diet containing cassava root meal replacing maize.

This finding was similar with the finding those reported by Kyawt et al (2014) who found that inclusion of 17.2% of cassava meal in diets for laying hens had improved egg shell weight. This finding was also similar with the finding Abd El-galil and Henda (2015) who reported improved on egg shell weight due to ginger root powder root supplementation in diet of Japanese laying quails. In another study, Aderemi et al (2012) who evaluated the effect of inclusion of whole cassava meal (WCM) as a replacement to maize at different levels on the egg quality characteristics of 40 weeks old laying hens and enhanced on albumen weight.

The mean values of yolk height, index, and diameter are shown in Table 5. The replacing of different levels of IbRM with maize had no significant (p>0.05) difference in yolk height, diameter, and index. The yolk index is a measure of the stand for quality of the yolk Chicken egg yolk index which falls in the range of 0.36 to 0.46 is an indicator of egg quality (Lishan 2017). Therefore, the yolk index of the present result was an indicator of the normal appearance and absence of negative effect of egg yolk quality parameter, on the vitelline membrane and chalaza of the chicken egg yolk, and the egg's freshness qualities were unaffected. This result agrees with the study of Akinfenwa et al (2011) who noted no significant effect on yolk height by different level of sweet potato meal of laying Japanese quail hens

Albumen height and Haugh unit values for the treatments are presented in Table 5. There were significant differences (p< 0.05) between treatments in albumen height and Haugh unit. This finding was consistent with studies by Aderemi et al (2012) who found that replacing 25% of the corn in laying hen diets with whole cassava meal enhanced albumen weight and Haugh unit. Similar findings were made by Kyawt et al (2014) who discovered that feeding laying hens diets with 17.2% of cassava meal improved the Haugh unit. The finding of Stevenson et al (1985) who reported that effect of added different level of cassava root meal on the egg quality of eggs from laying hens and did not find any adverse effect on egg quality parameters like Haugh unit and eggshell thickness. In another study, Aderemi et al (2012) evaluated the effect of inclusion of whole cassava meal (WCM) as a replacement to maize at different levels on the egg quality characteristics of 40 weeks old laying and enhanced by replacement of maize with whole cassava meal on albumen weight.

The mean eggshell thickness as a measure of egg shell quality resulting from feeding the four treatment rations is shown in Table 5. The study result indicated that, a diet at inclusion IbRM15 significantly higher in shell thickness of the eggs. Similar result was observed by Enyenihi et al (2009) feed of sun-dried cassava tuber meal for laying hens. This may be due to the presence of Ca content in OFSPRM was reported as superior to common staple cereals, roots, and tubers Ca content of sorghum (28 mg/100 g), maize (7 mg/100 g), rice (28 mg/100 g), wheat (29 mg/100 g), potato (12 mg/100 g), cassava (6 mg/100 g) and yam (17 mg/100 g) are reported to have superior concentration of Ca than common staples (USDA 2018).

This result was in similar with reports Aderemi et al (2012) observed that whole cassava meal could replace 25% of the corn in laying hen diets increased on laying performance and egg shell thickness. According to Kyawt et al (2014) found that inclusion of 17.2% of cassava meal in diets for laying hens had no adverse effect on egg shell strength, and egg shell thickness. This study is also similar to the finding of Aderemi et al (2012) who evaluated the effect of inclusion of whole cassava meal (WCM) as a replacement to maize at different levels on the egg quality characteristics of 40-week old layers enhanced on eggshell thickness. The results of this study implied that feeding layers with diets containing different level of IbRM would improve the egg shell quality of chicken.

Conclusion

The orange flesh sweet potato root meal (IbRM) content of diets for White Leghorn laying hens (15%) can be replaced by maize increase egg production, feed intake, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, yolk color and same internal egg quality. In generally replacing orange flesh sweet potato root meal by maize up to 15% without affecting performance and all egg quality parameters

References

Abd El-Galil K, and Henda A M 2015 Effect of ginger roots meal as feed additives in laying Japanese quail diets. Journal of American Science, 11(2): 164-173.

Aderemi F A, Adenowo T K, Oguntunji A O 2012 Effect of whole cassava meal on performance and egg quality characteristics of layers. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4:195-200.

Afolayan S B 2010 Evaluation of sweet potato meal as a source of energy in the diets of chickens. Ph.D. Thesis, Departmentof Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Afolayan S B, Dafwang I I, Tegbe T S B and Shekoni A A 2012 Response of broiler chickens fed on maize based diets substituted with graded levels of sweet potato meal. Asian Journal of Poultry Science, 6: 15-22.

Afolayan S B, Dafwang I I, Sekoni A and Jegede J O 2013 Effect of Dietary maize substitution with sweet potato meal on performance of growers (10-12 weeks) and subsequent egg production (23-35 weeks). Asian Journal of Poultry Science, 7(2): 55-64.

Aho P 2007 Impact on the world poultry industry of the global shift to biofuels. Poultry Science, 86: 2291-2294.

Aina A B J and Fanimo A O 1997 Substitution of maize with cassava and sweet potato meal as the energy source in the diets of layer birds. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 20: 163-167.

Akinfenwa F A, Bawa G S and Sekoni A A 2011Laying performance of japanese quail fed varying levels of effects of feeding varying levels of peeled and cooked white sweet potato meal on hen-day egg production external and internal egg qualities of Japanese quails. International Journal of Science and Applied Research , 5(1):13

Akinola L A F and Oruwari B M 2007 Response of laying hens to total dietary replacement of maize with cassava. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 34(2): 196-202.

Ayuk E A and Essien A 2009 Growth and haematological response of broiler chicks fed graded levels of sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) meal as replacement for maize. International Journal of Poultry Science, 8 (5): 485-488.

Beckford R C and Bartlett J R 2015 Inclusion levels of sweet potato root meal in the diet of broilers I. Effect on performance, organ weights, and carcass quality. Poultry Science, 94: 1316–1322.

Enyenihi G E Udedibie A B I Akpan M J Obasi O L and Solomon I P 2009 Effect of 5-hr wetting of un-dried cassava tuber meal on the HCN content and dietary value of the meal for laying hens. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4(6): 326-331.

Haugh R R 1937 The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. U.S. Egg Poultry. Magazine, 43: 522-573.

Hossain M A, Amin J R and Hossain M E 2013 Feasibility of cassava meal in broiler diets by partial replacing energy source (corn) in regard to gross response and carcass traits. InternationalJournal of Agricultural Research Innovation and Technology, 3(2): 59-65.

Kurata R, Adachi M, Yamakawa O and Yoshimoto M 2007 Growth suppression of human cancer cells by polyphenolics from sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas L.) leaves. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 55: 185-190.

Kyawt Y, Hidemi T, Win M H, Sarayut T, Yoshimi I and Yasuhiro K 2014 Effects of cassava substitute for maize based diets on performance characteristics and egg quality of laying hens. International Journal of Poultry Science, 13:518-524.

Ladokun O A, Aderemi F A and Tewe O O 2007 Sweet potato as a feed resource for layer production in Nigeria. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, 8:585-588.

Laurie S M, Calitz F J, Adebola P O and Lezar A 2013 Characterization and evaluation of South African sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM) land races. South African Journal of Botany, 85: 10-16.

Lishan Takele 2017 Study on the meat and egg quality of different chicken breeds at Debrezeit agricultural research center. MSc Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Maphosa T, Gunduza K T, Kusina J and Mutungamiri A 2003 Evaluation of sweet potato tuber (Ipomea batatas) as a feed ingredient in broiler chicken diets. Livestock research rural Development, 15 (1).

Mihret A 2012 Effect of substituting maize with sundried and ground Cassava tuber on egg production, quality, fertility and hatchability of white leghorn hens.MSc thesis, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.

Mishra B B, Kidan Kibret, Assen M and Eshetu Bekele 2004 Soil and land resourcesinventory at Alemaya Universiry research farm with reference to land evaluation for sustainable agricultural management and production. Synthesis of working papers, Soil sciences Bulletin, 1:123.

Mmereole F 2009 Evaluation of dietary inclusion of sweet potato (Ipoma batatas) leaf meal (SPLM) with and without enzyme treatment in broiler diets. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 8(6): 841-844.

Mmereole F U C 2008. Effects of replacing groundnut cake with rubber seed meal on the hematological and serological indices of broilers. International Journal of Poultry Science, 7: 622-624.

Mosebework Kassa, Tegene Negesse and Ajebu Nurfeta 2018 Effect of replacing Maize (Zea Mays L.) with Orange fleshed sweet potato tuber (Ipomoea Batatas) on performance of Cobb 500 Broiler Chickens. Agriculture Research and Teachers, 13 (5): 555895.

Muhammad A Set’le, Adegbola T, Adediwura O and Olayiwola E 2012 Growth performance of broiler chickens fed diets containing partially cooked sweet potato meal. Journal Natural Science Research, 2(2); 50-59.

NRC (National research council) 1994 Nutrient Requirement of poultry, 19th Edition. National Academic Press,Washington D.C. USA, 167.

Ojedapo L O, Akinokun O, Adedeji T A, Olayeni T B, Ameen S. A and Amao S R 2008 Effect of strain and sex on carcass characteristics of three commercial broilers reared in deep litter system in the derived savannah area of Nigeria. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 4(4), 487-491.534.

Ojewola G S, Olojede A O and Ehiri C G 2006 Evaluation of livingstone potato/Rizga ( Plectranthus esculentus N.Br) and Hausa potato ( Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir) as energy sources for broiler chicken. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 472-477.

Okon B I, Obi M B and Ayuk A A 2007 Performance of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed graded levels of boiled sun‑dried taro cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) as a replacement for maize. Agricultural Journal, 2(6):654-657.

Ravindran V and Blair R 1991 Feed resources for poultry production in Asia and the Pacific region. I: energy sources. World’s Poultry Science, J. 47, 213–231.

Stevenson M H and Jackson S 1985 The nutritive value of dried cassava root meal in broiler diets. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 34:823-829.

Uchegbu M C, Herbert U, Ogbuewu I P, Nwaodu C H, Esonu B O and Udedibie A B I 2011 Performance and egg quality characteristics of layers fed diets containing combinations of brewers dried grains, jack bean and cassava root meal. Revista Científica UDO Agrícola 11 (1): 155-160.

Udedibie A B I, Enyenihi G E, Akpan M J, Obasi O L and Solomon I P 2008 Physiochemical nature and nutritive value of dried cassava fufu meal for laying hens. Niger Agriculture Journal, 39: 44-49.

USDA 2018 US Department of Agriculture. USDA Food Composition Databases; Agricultural Research Services: Washington, DC.

Woolfe and Jennifer A J and Jennifer A 1992 Sweet potato;An untapped food Resource, Cambrige ,UK; Cambridge University press and the international potato center (CIP).