Effects of replacement of maize with dried leaves of sweet potato (Hypomoea batatas) and perennial peanuts (Arachis glabrata Benth) on the growth performance of finishing broilers

A total of 100 4-week-old unsexed Anak-2000 broiler chicks were used in a 4-week experiment to study the effect of replacing 200 or 300 g of maize kg−1 in the finisher diet with either sweet potato leaves (Hypomoea batatas) or perennial peanut leaves (Arachis glabrata Benth) on their growth rate and feed conversion ratio. The results revealed that the replacement of maize with sweet potato leaves significantly (P < 0.05) depressed body weight gain. Perennial peanut leaves had the same adverse effect on weight gain when replacing 300 g maize kg−1. However, when 200 g maize kg−1 was replaced by perennial peanut leaves, weight gain by chicks was similar to that of the control treatment. The substitution of 300 g maize kg−1 by either sweet potato leaves or perennial peanuts significantly (P < 0.05) increased feed conversion ratio. Therefore, the replacement of maize by either sweet potato or Arachis glabrata leaf meal does not seem justified under the conditions of this experiment.