Deoiled silkworm pupae, a protein supplement used in poultry ration, was detanned either in 70% acetone or water and their protein digestibility assessed through “invitro assay” ttchniquee The deoiled silkworm pupae treated in water had maximum digestibility (75.5%) followed by acetone tteated deoiled silkworm pupae (60%) when compared with that of fishmeal (56.2%)) The untreated deoiied silkworm pupae had the lowest digestibility (48%) though its crude protein content was higher (62.6%). The increased digestibility of the treated deoiled silkworm pupae meals was attributed to the detanning process by which the total phenols were removed from the sclerotised cuticular proteias of silkworm pupae.
