Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017.

34 (1): 118-120 Indian Journal of

doi: 10.5958/2231-6744.2017.00020.2
Animal Nutrition

SHORT COMMUNICATION
Potassium Hydroxide Solubility Test to Determine Protein
Quality of Soybean Meal
M.S. Mahesh*, Prashant M. Puri and S.P. Tripathi
Research and Development Centre (Animal Nutrition), Indo Gulf Fertilisers (A Unit of Aditya Birla Nuvo
Ltd), Jagdishpur, Amethi-227817, Uttar Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT
The present study investigated the quality of commercially available soybean meals (SBM) using
potassium hydroxide (KOH) solubility test. A total number of 12 samples from different traders were procured
over a period of eight months and analysed for chemical composition and KOH solubility. It was observed that
mean CP content and KOH soluble protein was 46.1 and 74.7%, respectively. Furthermore, 25% of the samples
failed to comply acceptable KOH soluble protein range of 70-85% thereby indicating excess heat treatment.
This cautions for ensuring strict quality control of SBM before incorporating into compound feeds especially
for poultry, pigs and perhaps pre-ruminants.
Key words: Heat treatment, Protein quality, Soybean meal

Soybean meal (SBM) is one of the commonly used reports on KOH solubility test are scarce for
Downloaded From IP - 47.11.128.40 on dated 18-Mar-2017

protein feedstuffs for poultry and to a lesser extent for ascertaining quality of commercial SBM available in
Members Copy, Not for Commercial Sale

ruminants as well. It is valued for its high CP (45-50%) India. Therefore, the present study was conducted to
www.IndianJournals.com

and rich lysine (6.1% of CP) profile with high determine KOH solubility of SBM samples traded in
digestibility that generally complements the poor amino Indian market as a quick quality control measure.
acid profile of cereal proteins in the diet (Heuzé et al., About 750-1000 g of SBM was sampled randomly
2016). However, due to the presence of incriminating from about 50 bags using a long grain sampler (stainless
factors such as protease (trypsin) inhibitors, SBM is steel probe) which were composited and placed into zip
usually subjected to heat treatment and the extent of lock bag. A total of 12 such composite samples over a
heating has a direct implication on its nutritive value period of eight months (May to December, 2016) were
(Willis, 2003). While, suboptimal processing leaves drawn from compound feed manufacturing units located
incriminating factors undestroyed, excess heating makes at Varanasi and Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
heat-sensitive lysine unavailable due to Maillard Chemical composition like organic matter (OM), ether
reaction (Heuzé et al., 2016). extract (EE), crude fibre (CF) and CP as well as KOH
Of the several quality control tests (urease solubility were determined using pre-calibrated (Trouw
activity, protein dispersibility index and nitrogen Nutrition Mosaic Network) near infrared reflectance
solubility index), protein soluble in 0.2% (w/v) spectroscopy (NIRSTM, DS 2500 F, FOSS, Hillerød,
potassium hydroxide (i.e., KOH solubility test) have been Denmark) after completing instrument checks and by
recognised as important and reliable methods for placing unground samples of SBM in the large sample
assessing protein quality in SBM for poultry (Araba and cup at 25°C. The KOH solubility test is based on the
Dale, 1990; Parsons et al., 1991; Willis, 2003) and pigs principle of determining the percentage of CP in 1.5 g
(Parsons et al., 1991). This parameter is effective in of SBM that is solubilised in 75 mL of 0.2% (w/v) KOH
differentiating overheated SBM from optimally (0.36 N; pH 12.5) solution when stirred at 8500 rpm for
processed ones, because KOH solubility generally 20 min. at room temperature (Araba and Dale, 1990).
decreases as the degree of heat treatment increases. The results were compiled as mean±standard error
Although, it is a simple and quick test, the published using descriptive statistical tools of Microsoft Office
*
Corresponding author: [email protected]
118
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (1): 118-120
 Assessment of protein quality of soybean meal using potassium hydroxide solubility test

Table 1. Chemical composition (% DM) and KOH soluble protein (% CP) in SBM samples
Sample No. OM EE CF CP KOH soluble
protein
1 92.6 1.3 7.0 46.4 68.2
2 92.5 1.3 6.8 45.3 65.5
3 92.3 1.4 7.2 44.5 66.3
4 93.0 1.3 6.9 46.2 73.4
5 92.8 0.7 7.9 45.9 79.2
6 91.9 1.2 6.7 46.8 72.6
7 93.0 0.9 6.4 45.8 72.6
8 92.7 0.6 6.7 47.4 75.9
9 93.0 1.0 7.5 46.5 83.0
10 93.1 1.3 6.6 46.0 76.5
11 93.3 1.0 7.2 45.9 79.6
12 93.3 1.4 7.5 45.9 83.1
Mean±SE 92.8±0.1 1.1±0.1 7.0±0.1 46.1±0.2 74.7±1.7
Downloaded From IP - 47.11.128.40 on dated 18-Mar-2017

Excel. undergone excessive heat treatment that minimised their

Members Copy, Not for Commercial Sale
www.IndianJournals.com

The chemical composition and KOH solubility of solubility. In this direction, Araba and Dale (1990)
SBM have been presented in Table 1. It was evident demonstrated that autoclaving SBM at 120°C for 5 and
that all the samples were of solvent extracted type and 80 min. decreased KOH solubility from 76.3 to 40.8%
thus presented relatively low EE values (0.6-1.4%). which in turn caused growth depression in chicks (445
Similarly, CP content varied in a narrow range of around vs. 210 g; P<0.05) due to destruction of digestible lysine.
3 units (44.5-47.4%), whereas BIS (1998) specifies a In addition, Parsons et al. (1991) also concluded that
minimum of 48% CP in SBM intended for animal feed KOH solubility test could serve as a simple in vitro test
use. Furthermore, OM level averaged 92.8% while CF gauging in vivo protein quality for monogastrics. On
level ranged from 6.4 to 7.9% that exceeded the BIS the contrary, Willis (2003) stated that high KOH
(1998) maximum limit of 5%. Nevertheless, the solubility (93 vs. 78) reflecting under processing also
composition is broadly comparable with the previously
has adverse effect on chick weight gain (180 vs. 210 g;
published values for SBM (Kiran and Krishnamoorthy,
P<0.05).
2007; Das et al., 2014; Heuzé et al., 2016).
On account of variability in KOH solubility found
The KOH soluble protein ranged from 65.5 to
in commercial samples of SBM available in Indian
83.1% across the samples indicating much variability in
markets, it could be concluded that due caution may be
the quality. The reports on KOH solubility of
exerted during commercial procurement of the same by
commercial SBM in Indian market are scarce to
feed compounding industry for desired nutrient utilisation.
compare our results. Out of 12 different samples
analysed, 9 samples could be graded to contain good REFERENCES
quality protein since a KOH solubility range of 70-85% Araba, M. and Dale, N.M. 1990. Evaluation of protein
solubility as an indicator of over-processing of
is generally regarded as ideal for normal SBM
soybean meal. Poult. Sci. 69: 76-83.
reflecting good quality of protein (Heuzé et al., 2016).
BIS. 1998. Bureau of Indian Standards. Specification for
It is noteworthy here that KOH solubility is best suited solvent extracted soyabean oil cake (meal) as livestock
to judge over-processing and hence it is reasonable that feed ingredient. IS: 10657, 1983. Reaffirmed (1998).
the 3 samples with <70% KOH solubility might have Das, L.K., Kundu, S.S., Kumar, D. and Chander Datt. 2014.
119
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (1): 118-120
 Mahesh et al.

Assessment of energy content of some tropical Parsons, C.M., Hashimoto, K., Wedekind, K.J. and Baker, D.H.
concentrate feeds of ruminants using model of 1991. Soybean protein solubility in potassium hy
National Research Council-2001. Indian J. Sci. Technol. droxide: an in vitro test of in vivo protein quality. J.
1999-2006. Anim. Sci. 69: 2918-2924.
Heuzé, V., Tran, G. and Kaushik, S. 2016. Soybean Meal. Willis, S. 2003. The use of soybean meal and full fat soybean
Feedipedia, a programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and meal by the animal feed industry. In: "Proc. 12th Austr.
FAO. http://www.feedipedia.org/node/674 (Last Soybean Conference". Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
accessed on 27.12.2016) p 5.
Kiran, D. and Krishnamoorthy, U. 2007. Rumen fermentation
and microbial biomass synthesis indices of tropical
feedstuffs determined by the in vitro gas production
technique. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 134: 170-179.

Received on 12-01-2017 and accepted on 31-01-2017

Downloaded From IP - 47.11.128.40 on dated 18-Mar-2017
Members Copy, Not for Commercial Sale
www.IndianJournals.com

120
Indian J. Anim. Nutr. 2017. 34 (1): 118-120