Study tests guar korma as lower-cost soybean meal alternative

Roasted guar korma may offer buffalo producers a cheaper partial substitute for soybean meal, according to a study published July 9, 2026, in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. In a 120-day feeding trial, researchers reported that replacing up to half of the soybean meal in Murrah buffalo calf diets with roasted guar korma did not significantly change growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient utilization, or measured hematobiochemical values, while lowering feed cost. (frontiersin.org)

The work comes at a time when protein ingredient costs remain a live issue for livestock feeding programs. In the paper’s introduction, the authors frame soybean meal as a widely used but high-cost protein source, especially challenging in practical ration formulation for smallholder systems. Broader market reporting this year has also pointed to pressure from higher soybean meal prices in India’s feed sector, reinforcing interest in lower-cost alternatives and agro-industrial by-products. (frontiersin.org)

The study was conducted by investigators from the ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes in Hisar, India. Twenty-four Murrah male calves, 9 to 16 months old with an average body weight of about 206 kg, were assigned to three isonitrogenous diets: a control diet with soybean meal, a diet with 25% roasted guar korma replacing soybean meal, and a diet with 50% replacement. Calves also received wheat straw and green oats, and researchers tracked voluntary intake, fortnightly body weight, digestibility by total fecal collection, and blood measures over 120 days. (frontiersin.org)

Results were straightforward: no statistically significant differences emerged among groups for dry matter intake, growth, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibility, or the reported hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Economically, though, the substitution mattered. The authors reported guar korma was locally priced at INR 38/kg versus INR 55/kg for soybean meal, and that the 50% replacement diet reduced concentrate cost by INR 2,210 per tonne and daily feeding cost by INR 5.42 per calf. (frontiersin.org)

The paper also fits with earlier buffalo nutrition research. A 2014 study indexed by AGRIS found guar korma, roasted guar korma, and guar churi could replace part of soybean meal in buffalo rations without adverse effects on feed intake or nutrient utilization, while blood values stayed within physiological limits. Other recent and prior studies in buffalo calves have similarly explored roasted guar korma as a substitute for conventional protein sources, suggesting the ingredient has been under evaluation for years rather than emerging suddenly as a novel feed concept. (agris.fao.org)

There does not appear to be substantial outside expert commentary on this specific paper yet, which is common for narrowly focused animal nutrition studies published within the past two weeks. Still, the industry logic is clear: when soybean meal prices rise, interest in alternative protein ingredients tends to follow. In that sense, the study’s reception is likely to be strongest among nutritionists, extension specialists, and producers looking for regionally available ingredients that can preserve performance while improving ration economics. That’s an inference based on the study findings and current feed-market context, rather than a direct quote from outside experts. (frontiersin.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially those advising dairy and buffalo operations in cost-sensitive systems, this study supports a practical message: partial replacement of soybean meal with a processed by-product may be feasible without obvious short-term tradeoffs in calf growth or basic health indicators. The more important clinical and advisory caveat is that the trial was relatively small, limited to male Murrah calves, and evaluated only up to 50% replacement over 120 days. The authors also note they did not characterize anti-nutritional compounds or directly isolate the effect of roasting, so formulation decisions still need attention to ingredient quality, consistency, and processing. (frontiersin.org)

What to watch: The next step is validation in larger and longer studies, especially in lactating buffalo and at higher inclusion levels. If follow-up work confirms the economics and safety profile, guar korma could become a more credible regional tool for managing protein costs in buffalo diets, particularly where soybean meal supply and pricing remain unstable. (frontiersin.org)