Use of okara (aqueous extract residue) in the diet of starter broilers

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to determine the chemical composition of okara and to evaluate the performance and carcass yield of broilers fed diets containing increasing levels of okara. In experiment 1, a total of 72 21-d-old Cobb male broilers were distributed in an entirely randomized experimental design consisting of three treatments and four replicates of six birds each. The energy in okara was 2972 kcal of AME kg−1, with an apparent metabolizable energy (AME) coefficient of 60.72 (% dry matter). In experiment 2, a total of 840 male Cobb male chicks were distributed in an entirely randomized experimental design consisting of six treatments (0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10% okara inclusion) and six replicates of 28 birds each. The inclusion of increasing levels of okara from 1 to 21 d of age linearly reduced (P < 0.05) weight gain and feed intake, without affecting (P > 0.05) feed conversion, carcass, breast, drumstick, and thigh yields at 42 d of age. Economic analysis indicated that a 10.0% inclusion level of okara in broiler diets during the starter phase produced the best economic results.

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

“…Okara can replace about 60% of the soybean meal in growing duck's diet without any change in performance (Dong et al, 2005). Similarly, Diaz‐Vargas et al (2016) reported that broiler chicken (from 1 to 21 days of age) fed diets containing okara up to 10% showed no adverse effects on performance, carcass yield or blood metabolic profiles.…”

“…Growth performance of broiler chicken was not affected by feeding them diets where soybean meal was replaced with okara up to 75%, and the FCR (1.83–1.88) of the okara‐fed group was not significantly ( p > 0.05) different from the control group (Motawe et al, 2012). Diaz‐Vargas et al (2016) also reported that broiler chicken fed with diets containing okara up to 10% did not show any detrimental effects on their growth performance and FCR (1.79–1.86). In another study, there were no differences in carcass yield when broiler chickens were fed diets with various levels of okara (El‐Nagmy et al, 2004; Ibrahim, 2006).…”

“…Overfeeding okara could decrease feed intake and performance of nonruminants due to the high fiber content (Motawe et al, 2012). Dried okara can be included up to 10% in broiler diet without any adverse effects on performance, carcass yield, or blood parameters (Diaz-Vargas et al, 2016).…”

“…The biggest difference between okara and soybean meal is tryptophan. Tryptophan is about 55.5% less found in okara compared to soybean meal (Diaz‐Vargas et al, 2016). For nonruminants, careful attention should be taken for their ration formulation (if okara is used) since they cannot synthesize amino acids by their body mechanism.…”

Evaluation of rehydrated corn grain silage with okara or soybean inclusion in the performance of lactating cows

“…To obtain okara, soybean grains are washed, macerated, ground, heated at 100 °C for five minutes, and then passed through a filtration process that separates the aqueous extract from okara. This by-product has the good nutritional quality and low acquisition cost, with protein content from 240 to 375 g kg −1 , lipids from 93 to 223 g kg −1 , and crude fiber from 140 to 550 g kg −1 , based on the dry matter (Mateos-Aparicio, Mateos-Peinado, Jiménez-Escrig, & Rupérez, 2010;Diaz-Vargas et al, 2016). However, its high moisture content makes it difficult to be dried, but it is a promising food for silage with dry corn grains.…”