Effects of Using Fresh Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas) Vines on Performance and Milk Yield of Lactating Nubian Goats

Twenty seven newly giving birth lactating Nubian goats were used to evaluate the effect of using fresh sweet potato vines in performance and milk yield. Experimental animals were divided into three groups that were fed three different experimental diets. Group A (control) were fed on fresh chopped Abu-70 variety of Sorghum vulgar. Group B were fed on fresh chopped sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas ) vines and stems . Groups C were fed on fresh chopped clitoria (Clitoria ternate). Significant (p 0.05) heavier final weight (28.45±6.67 kg) and weight gain (3.82±0.72). This group recorded a highly significant (p<0.001) fodder intake (1.88±0.35). Best feed conversion ratio was recorded by group C (6.71) .Treatment effect was highly significant (p<0.01) on daily milk yield. Group B, performed the higher milk yield (0.58±0.18 liter), milk protein, milk fat and total solids compared to group A and C. According to the results obtained nutritional properties of the sweet potato leaves indicate that they have the potentiality to improve dietary protein and amino acid supply in low fibre diets for ruminants. Like other traditional fodders used in the Sudan, sweet potato can be used likewise for feeding small ruminants for milk production with marked levels of success.