Effects of Including Okara into the Diet of Post-Weanling Crossbred Boer Goats and Its Impact On Growth and Performance
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Ag Science and Natural Resources
Date of Award
Summer 2012
Abstract
A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects on growth and performance of post-weanling crossbred Boer goats when replacing 20% of a corn-based commercially available pelleted feedstuff with okara, an agroindustrial by-product of soymilk and tofu production. In this 2010 study, twenty-five crossbred Boer post-weanlings (14 wethers and 11 doelings) were stratified by gender and randomly assigned based on body weight (BW) to one of two treatments, an okara group (OG, n = 13) and a control group (CG, n=12). Measurements were collected every 14 days and consisted of hip height (HH), girth circumference (GC), and BW. All weanlings grazed on a 2-acre paddock that consisted of coastal bermudagrass, coastal bermudagrass hay and water ad libitum. Both groups were fed daily. The CG was fed a diet composed of commercially available pelleted feed, 16% CP, at a rate of 1.5% of their BW for 98 d. The OG diet was composed of 80% commercial feed and 20% oven-dried okara, at a rate of 1.5% of their body weight. Variables calculated were average daily gain (ADG), hip height gain (HHG), girth circumference gain (GCG) and daily dry matter intake (DDMI). Results indicated there were no gender effects or interactions with treatment found for any of the variables measured; thus, only means for treatment are presented. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in HHG (0.050 vs. 0.050 cm/d), GCG (0.040 vs. 0.040 cm/d), ADG (46.4 vs. 46.2, g) and DDMI (194.0 vs. 187.5 g/d) between the CG and OG, respectively. These results indicate that replacing a sixteen percent crude protein commercially available feedstuff with up to 20% okara in the diet did not compromise the growth and performance of post-weanling crossbred Boer goats. Additional data and further studies are needed to evaluate okara as an effective and alternative feed source for various production systems in animal agriculture.
Advisor
Jim Heitholt
Subject Categories
Agriculture | Life Sciences
Recommended Citation
Ramsey, Lauren Lynn, "Effects of Including Okara into the Diet of Post-Weanling Crossbred Boer Goats and Its Impact On Growth and Performance" (2012). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 188.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/188
