Effect of Okara meal (Soy pulp) replacing groundnut cake on the growth performance and economic efficiency of Japanese quails

The present study aims at exploring okara meal, a byproduct generated during tofu or soymilk production processes, as a potential feed resource in quails. The experiment was conducted for six weeks (42 days) on 200 one-week-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of nearly similar live body weight (15.34 g) randomly allotted to four treatments, with different levels of okara meal (OM) in the diet, viz., T₁ (0% OM), T₂ (25% OM), T₃ (50% OM) and T₄ (75% OM) replacing ground nut cake of control ration on protein equivalent basis with five replicates of ten chicks in each group to evaluate its effect on important broiler characteristics like growth, feed utilization and economic efficiency. The chicks were fed on isonitrogenous and isocaloric diet with 23% crude protein (CP) and 2900 Kcal/kg metabolisable energy (ME). The body weight (187.44±2.63) and body weight gain (g) (171.56±2.43) at 6^th week in T₃fed group was significantly higher than other groups. Feeding graded levels of okara meal in broiler diets had no significant effect on feed intake, FCR and PER was comparable to that of control group. The feed cost/kg live body weight was reduced when replacing groundnut cake with okara meal at levels of 75%. The replacement reduced feed cost/kg diet, feed cost/kg weight gain and save considerable amounts of expensive ingredients, however the replacement level of 50% okara meal in diet was considered optimum in quails, as there was depression in broiler characteristics beyond this level.