Effect of raw potato (Ipomea batatas L.) meals’ particle size on growth performances of broiler chickens

This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm (FAR) of the University of Dschang to assess the effect of the particle size of raw potato meal on the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 224 day-old Starbro broiler chicks were distributed in 16 experimental units in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates each. The treatments were 50% of maize replacement by raw potato root meal with particles sizes ≤1mm, [1-2mm] and [2-3mm]. Feed intake, weight gain and carcass yield increased with increasing particle size of potato meal. The diets R2 and R3 containing respectively potato with particle size ranging from 1-2 mm and 2-3 mm induced the highest but not significant body weight and weight gain as compared to diets R1 (≤1mm) and R0 (without potato). The smallest gizzard (1.53g) and intestine (60.87g) weight, and the lowest intestine density (0.28g/cm) were achieved with treatment R2 [1-2mm] compared to treatments R0, R1 (≤1mm) and R3 [2-3mm]. It was concluded in the conditions of the present study that, substituting up to 50% of dietary maize with raw potato meal with particle size [1-2mm] had positive effect on growth performance of broiler chicken.