Use of potato as carbohydrate source in poultry ration

Abstract

Potato is an extensively cultivated annual crop in Bangladesh. In some years, when the production of potato is surplus, tons of potatoes are damped due to insufficient storage facilities. This study aims at the use of potato in poultry rations that could greatly benefit the potato farmers and poultry industries. Potato meal was incorporated in rations of broiler (Cobb-500) and fayoumi laying hens, respectively. The rations were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, with the only difference being the content of corn and potato. The results showed there were no differences in feed conversion ratio, survivability rate and dressing percentage among the treatment groups of broiler up to 30% replacement of corn with potato. Furthermore, no notable difference was observed in egg production and egg quality of laying hens on potato diets. These results suggest that potato meal could be included up to 30% as substitute of corn meal in both broiler and laying hen diets without having any negative effects. We believe that the results from this study would significantly contribute to the nation where corn production is not as great as that of potato.