Effect of Feeding Sweet Potato and/or High-Oleic Peanuts to Laying Hens on Ileal Nutrient Digestibility

Abstract

Objective: The study’s goal was to compare, apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen, apparent nitrogen retention, apparent fat digestibility and apparent protein digestibility (APD). Materials and Methods: Four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were fed to 80 Shaver hens for six weeks. Diets had a 2% inclusion of Celite indigestible marker. The four diets were (1) Conventional corn-soybean control, (2) 8% inclusion of high oleic peanut, (3) 4% inclusion of sweet potato by-product and (4) 4% sweet potato by-product +4% high-oleic peanut inclusion. Results: Control and birds fed a high-oleic peanut containing diet had greater apparent metabolizable energy values than other treatments, while diets containing sweet potatoes and high oleic peanuts had the least (p<0.0001). Apparent nitrogen retention for hens fed a diet containing sweet potatoes was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than other treatments. The diet containing both sweet potatoes and high oleic peanuts had highest apparent fat digestibility (p<0.0001) than other treatments. Control had the lowest apparent fat digestibility with the high oleic containing diet being slightly higher. The apparent protein digestibility of the diet containing sweet potatoes was higher than all treatments (p<0.0001). Control and the birds fed a diet containing high oleic peanuts were lower than the birds fed a diet with sweet potatoes included. Conclusion: This study implicated that diets containing sweet potato are a reasonable alternative feed ingredient for layers and sustainable utilization of a considerable agricultural waste by-product.