Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in swine nutrition: A systematic review of bioactive compounds, physiological functions, and feeding applications.

Pig feed made from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is nutritious and bioactive. This review covers its composition, physiological effects, and pig feed use. Leaves and tubers provide carbs, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and carotenoids. Functional nutrition is now about gut health, antioxidants, and inflammation. Boiling, drying, and ensiling affect nutrients. Typical inclusion levels of sweet potato roots (10-30% of diet) and vines (5-15%) are generally safe without compromising growth. Consistent positive outcomes include improved gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier markers, whereas effects on growth performance, feed conversion, and meat quality traits are variable. Sweet potato increases gut flora, antioxidants, and intestinal barrier without impairing productivity. However, antinutritional elements, palatability changes, and storage/processing stability issues restrict its benefits. Researchers should optimize processing to increase nutrient availability, develop animal feed sweet potato cultivars, and evaluate immunological, metabolic, and environmental sustainability. Overall, sweet potato is a diverse feed that improves swine production resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.