Research enhances understanding of nutritional and economic differences in soybean meal from different origins.

July 6, 2020

3 Min Read
Source origin influences soybean meal quality
United Soybean Board

A new meta-analytical study — “Chemical Composition, Protein Quality & Nutritive Value of Commercial Soybean Meals Produced from Beans from Different Countries” — demonstrates that not all soybean meals are equal and that meal from different countries of origin should be treated individually when formulating swine and poultry diets.

Further, data from this study were subsequently analyzed by the Nutrient Value Calculator (NVC), a software tool constructed by Genesis Feed Technologies, which supported the economic benefits of U.S. soybean meal relative to meal from other origins as a key ingredient in poultry rations, according to an announcement from the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

Study co-author Dr. Gonzalo Mateos, professor of animal science at the University of Madrid in Spain, recently presented findings from the meta-analysis at the USSEC Asia Trade Exchange.

USSEC said the compilation of research "is the most comprehensive quality review of soybean meal that has ever been conducted, and it gives customers greater clarity around soybean meal quality from different countries of origin."

The meta-analysis looked at 18 different studies and 1,944 samples to quantify the relationship between country of origin of the bean and the chemical composition and nutritive value of the soybean meal, USSEC reported. Soybeans were analyzed originating from Argentina, Brazil, the U.S. and India.

“One of the main points from the study is that customers should be using different matrices for the evaluation of the nutritional value of soybean meals of different origins,” Mateos said. “If they buy only based on protein or vegetable sucrose content, they may buy a product that is actually lower quality. Therefore, it is important to check all of the values that are related to the nutritive value of the soybean meal before making purchase decisions, which this study addresses.”

The information in this meta-analysis forms a new key pillar of an economic evaluation of soybean meal in global markets. Using the NVC, the economic value of U.S. soybean meal can be evaluated in global markets using formulas representative of the regional feed manufacturers, USSEC said. Nutrient values and prices of all the other components of the diet are also used in this calculation.

The NVC indicated that U.S. soybean meal is the leading contributor to cost reduction in broiler diets, according to USSEC.

Peter Schott, chief executive officer and co-founder of Genesis Feed Technologies, said he hopes soybean meal purchasers “take note of the results, purchase more U.S. soy and see a significant reduction in their feed costs. This NVC analyzes economic nutritional value of soybean meals from different origins to give traders and buyers a platform to connect with nutritionists directly to better inform their feed investments.”

When comparing cost reductions with incorporation of data from the aforementioned meta-analytical study, premiums of U.S. soybean meal range from $14.57 to $23.24 per metric ton over soybean meal from Argentina and range from $2.48 to $10.26/mt over soybean meal from Brazil, USSEC said.

Soybean meal is an important source of protein for the global feed industry, where it is used in livestock, poultry and aquaculture diets.

A summary of the meta-analysis is available here.

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