Sweet potatoes can be used fresh, dried or ensiled (Lin et al., 1988). Like cereal grains, sweet potato tubers are rich in highly digestible starch and sugars and constitute a valuable source of energy for ruminants. However, the high dry matter degradability (above 85%) (Chanjula et al., 2003), and the high content of soluble carbohydrates may lead to acidification in the rumen (Szylit et al., 1978). Sweet potatoes should, therefore, be gradually introduced into the diet, and offered with roughages to minimize the risk of digestive disturbances (Otieno et al., 2008).
Cull sweet potatoes could be used as energy supplement to cow-calf couple grazing tall fescue prairie during winter season in place of cottonseed without any adverse effect (Parish et al., 2019).
Dairy cattle
Early reports comparing dried sweet potato tubers and maize for dairy production found that the tubers had a value that was between 88 and 98% that of maize (Mather et al., 1948; Rusoff et al., 1947; Woolfe, 1992). 36% dried sweet potato or maize in the diet of Jersey cows resulted in identical live weights and milk and butterfat production (Frye et al., 1948; Mather et al., 1948). Replacement of 50% maize with dried sweet potatoes, or substitution of sorghum silage with fresh sweet potatoes did not alter milk production. Feeding dried roots of orange-flesh varieties increased the vitamin A and beta-caroten content of the milk (Woolfe, 1992).
Beef cattle
Sweet potatoes give good results in beef cattle and are roughly equivalent to maize grain. They are palatable and it has been possible to substitute maize grain by 50% to 100% dried sweet potatoes while maintaining performance. For example replacing 50% maize by dried sweet potatoes resulted in higher daily weight gains (1.17 vs. 1.07 kg/day) and similar market prices as the maize diet, while total replacement led to slightly lower weight gains and prices. Replacement of 50% of the maize by sweet potatoes did not affect feed palatability and meat colour (Woolfe, 1992). Supplementation with nitrogen sources such as soybean meal and urea is preferable, and resulted in daily gains higher for the sweet potato-based diets (50 to 100% replacement) than for the maize-based diet (Woolfe, 1992; Backer et al., 1980). Sweet potatoes were found to be a better source of energy than molasses for beef cattle, perhaps due to a detrimental effect of molasses on cellulolytic activity (Backer et al., 1980). Mixing potato forage and sweet potato tubers can be a good feeding strategy from an economic standpoint (Backer et al., 1980). Cooking improved the palatability of the roots but not the feed efficiency. Steam-pelleting improved starch availability and urea utilization (Woolfe, 1992).
Dehydrated sweet potato was included at 50% in a diet for steers of about 317 kg to replace maize grain. The dry matter digestibility of the diet was higher (+ 5 points) or tended to be higher with sweet potato energy source (Briggs et al., 1947).
Sweet potato trimmings, which are defective portions trimmed from the tubers, have been included in a complete diet (51% dietary level) to replace maize as energy source for finishing steers (289 kg). The experiment lasted 126 days, daily weight gain of steers was lower (800 vs 1000 g/d) and daily dry matter intake (DMI) was lower (9.4 vs 11.6 kg/d) resulting in an identical feed efficiency of 11.6 -11.8. The dry matter digestibility of the diet was also lower with sweet potato trimmings (72.3 vs 77 %). Part of these results may be due to the presentation form of sweet potato trimmings which were not ground during the first half of the trial. Some differences were observed on carcass quality with less marbling with sweet potato trimmings diet (Bond et al., 1967). It should be noted that the use of defective tubers parts is not recommended for health reasons as these parts may be contaminated with toxic moulds (See Potential constraints).
Sheep
Growing sheep fed 100% sweet potato tubers lost weight and scoured in less than 4 weeks, which may have been caused by the too low protein and fibre content of sweet potatoes. Mixing sweet potato forage and tubers resulted in better intake (658 g/day), weight gain (86.4 g/day) and nutrient utilization, as well as a lower cost per kg of live weight gain than from forage or tubers alone. A 50:50 sun-dried mix of sweet potato tubers and forage maximized economic returns from cultivating sweet potato for sheep feeding (Olorunnisomo, 2007). Sweet potatoes were found to be similar to maize grain for live weight gain in gestating ewes, and better for milk production and lamb growth in lactating ewes (Woolfe, 1992).
When dehydrated sweet potato was included at 45% in a diet for lambs (28 kg) to replace maize grain, the dry matter digestibility of the diet was lowered by 2-3 points (Briggs et al., 1947).