一、擬解決問題
近年來全球氣候變遷，造成穀物減產，又以玉米轉為生質能源作物，使畜禽飼料價格節節上升，造成國內畜禽飼養成本增加，已成為永續經營上的重要挑戰；所以，開發適合國情需求的飼料用農作物，可讓飼料原料來源多元化，且可降低受進口飼料價格波動之衝擊及依賴。
臺灣養鴨事業十分發達，是重要的家禽事業之一；因此，如何提升養鴨業者之競爭力與利潤，是非常重要之課題。而土番鴨具有精肉多、抗病力強、耐粗性好的特性外，還集合了番鴨肉質鮮美以及北京鴨生長迅速的特性於一身，是臺灣特有之品種；所以，本試驗旨在探討飼糧中以甘藷取代玉米對土番鴨生長性狀與屠體性狀之影響，以供養鴨業者參考，期能提升養鴨業者之競爭力。
二、研究方法
0-3週齡土番鴨其飼糧為CP 18.7%及代謝能2,890 kcal/kg，於飼養滿3週齡後，逢機分成4處理組，第一組為玉米及大豆粕飼糧對照組，第二至四組分別以甘藷取代對照組玉米用量之15%、30%及45%，各組皆等蛋白質CP15.4%及等代謝能2,890 kcal/kg，每處理組3重複欄，每欄20隻，飼養於鴨舍內進行飼糧試驗，並在試驗之第3、7、10與12週齡時，測定鴨隻之個別體重及各組之飼料消耗量，以估算鴨隻之採食量、增重及飼料轉換率等性狀表現。
三、研究貢獻
由本試驗結果得知，飼糧中以甘藷取代玉米15%，有助於改善土番鴨之活體重與增重，此結果可供業者參考，將能提升養鴨業者之競爭力與利潤。
四、英文摘要
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of feeding with diets containing different ratio of sweet potato on growth performance of mule ducks. After 3 weeks of age, ducks were allocated randomly into four treatments: control and three isocaloric and isonitrogenous groups in which graded level (15%, 30% or 45%) sweet potato was in substitution for corn in control diet. There were three replicates in each treatment. Growth traits were collected at 3, 7, 10 and 12 weeks of age. In body weight, the treatment given diet contain 15% corn replaced by sweet potato showed significant heavier body weight of 2,772 g than other three treatments. In body weight gain, the treatment given diet contain 15% corn replaced by sweet potato showed significant higher body weight gain of 2,254 g than other three treatments in the period from 3 to 12 weeks of age. The results indicated that feeding ducks with diet containing 15% corn replaced by sweet potato can improve mule ducks body weight and body weight gain. This result can be a reference for industry.