Short communication A note on a comparison of the feeding value of sweet potato vines and lucerne meal for broiler chickens

The chemical composition of sun-dried sweet potato vines (SPV) and lucerne meal showed high levels (g/kg DM) of neutral detergent ®bre, ash and protein of 364 and 352, 178 and 100, and 191 and 182, respectively. Amino acid analysis showed modest levels of lysine, threonine and the sulfur amino acids in both meals but concentrations of these amino acids were generally higher in lucerne meal than SPV meal despite similar crude protein values. Mineral analysis showed a useful amount of Ca (10 g/kg) in both meals. When SPV meal replaced lucerne meal at 0±160 g/kg diet, broilers grown to 21 days showed no differences (p>0.05) in growth rate, food intake or food ef®ciency. The apparent metabolisable energy (MJ/kg) of diets containing 40 and 80 g SPV/kg was higher (14.1± 14.6) than the speci®c dietary concentrations of SPV at other levels. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.