Varietal Variation in Chemical Composition and Effect of Feeding Treated Soybean Grain on the Growth of Quails

Study involved chemical composition of 21 varieties of soybean in the first phase. Ever reported highest crude protein (48.27 percent) was recorded in PS-1092 variety of soybean. The values of ether extract varied in the normal range of 15.28 to 22.61 percent, minimum being associated with T-49 and maximum with PK-1092 variety of soybean grain. Interestingly, highest quantity of crude fibre (8.97%) was also found in T-49 variety of soybean. The total ash contents of different varieties of soybean varied in the narrow range of 5.33 per cent (Kalitur) to 6.74 percent (PK-262). All the varieties were found rich in calcium and phosphorus contents. Based on relative intensities, the PK-1092 variety contained lowest trypsin inhibitor, whereas highest value was recorded in PK-1042 variety of soybean grain. In second phase of the study, 225 one day old quails were divided into three groups i.e. Control, D-l (untreated soybean grain) and D-2 (heat treated soybean grain). Each group was subdivided into three replicates. The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. The feed intake values were similar in all the groups but significantly higher (P<0.005) body weight gain was recorded in D-2 (HTSG) at 5th week of age. It is, therefore, obvious that feeding heat treated soybean grain increased the growth rate in quails.