EFFECTS OF ROASTING AND PARTICLE SIZE ON THE UTILIZATION OF SOYBEANS BY PIGS AND RATS
Three experiments involving 96 pigs and 48 rats were conducted to evaluate the effects of roasting temperature and particle size on the utilization of soybeans. The discharge temperature of roasted soybeans ranged from 110 to 162 C with an average roasting time of 1 min. A range of particle sizes was obtained by using three different screen sizes (2.38-, 3.14- and 4.76-mm holes) in a hammermill used to process the soybeans. Regression analyses of the data indicated that the response in terms of liveweight gain to changes in roasting temperature was quadratic, with maximum response between 130 and 150 C. The digestibility coefficients were slightly lower for diets containing soybeans roasted to temperatures below 130 C than for diets containing soybeans roasted to higher temperatures. The grinding treatments applied to the soybeans did not significantly affect the growth response or the digestibility coefficients for dry matter and protein.