No significant differences were found in the ADFI (P=0.565) or ME intake (P=0.750) between the diet groups in the starter period. No significant differences in the G:F ratio, which varied between 0.89 and 1.01, were detected between the diet groups. However, by contrast analysis, broiler chickens fed the 10% SPH diets showed a higher G:F ratio than the PP (PP vs. 10% SPH, P=0.036), FM (FM vs. 10% SPH, P=0.009) and 5% SPH (5% SPH vs. 10% SPH, P=0.002) diet groups in the starter period.