Development of Okara Feedstuff by Lactic Acid Fermentation

Abstract

Okara is apt to go bad quickly, but it is rich in many nutrients for feedstuff. Total bacterial counts of raw okara increased rapidly. We inoculated three lactic bacteria or bacteria isolated from okara to raw okara and incubated in aerobically or anaerobically conditions. All inoculated bacterial counts increased, however total bacterial counts also increased in all incubations. In anaerobic incubation of okara, lactic acid bacterial counts increased, and pH lowered. Rats were fed control diet or 20% of lactic fermented okara containing feed for 14 days. Body weight gain and feed intake were not influenced, and fecal weight and fecal nitrogen output increased significantly by okara intake. This result suggested that lactic fermented okara was available for use as feedstuff. A large effect was not expected by inoculation of lactic bacteria by way of prevention of putrefaction.