Sweet potato (Imomoea batata) and Godere (Colocasia antiquoum) as Substitute for Maize in Poultry Ration.

Two experiments were conducted to study the use of sweet potato and godere as substitute of maize in poultry ration. Three starter's and three layer's treatment rations containing 20% of either sweet potato, godere or equal parts of sweet potato and godere were evaluated with White Leghorn chicks and layers using their respective commercial and maize hosed rations as positive and negative control treatments, respectively. The results obtained showed that, inclusion of 20% sweet potato into starter's and layer's ration induced low feed intake, poor feathering and flatulancy, whereas, 20% of either sweet potato or godere induced significantly (P0.05) low chick growth, delayed sexual maturity and low egg production. There was Improvement in performances of the experimental birds as a result of reduction of sweet potato and godere from 20% to 10%. However, there were no significant differences between all the treatment groups in mortality and in yolk, albumen and egg weight as well as infertility and hatchability of the eggs incubated. The groups fed on commercial starter's and layer's treatment rations were significantly (P 0.05) efficient in feed conversion as measured by kilogram of feed required to produced a unit of body weight gain, a dozen of eggs and raise baby chick t an age of the first egg. According to the results of this study and on the basis of the current market price of mature chicken and eggs, maize could economically be sued as the bulk of energy concentrate in poultry feeding. The use of sweet potato and/or godere as partial substitute for maize is not economically feasible due to the low dry mater contents of the crops as purchased and fed basis. Similarly the use of commercial poultry rations purchased from Addis Ababa is not economically viable in the Jima and Bedele areas of Oromiya Region due to feed and feed transportation costs.