Because of its high protein content and amino acid profile, it is widely used in the rations of different animal species, especially poultry and cattle.
How Is Soybean Meal Obtained?
Soybeans can be put through various processes to make use of their oil and protein.
When the oil is separated during processing, the remaining solid part forms soybean meal. The product’s characteristics may vary with the quality of the soybeans used and the processing method applied.
Soybean meal should therefore not be regarded as a uniform product.
The Nutritional Value of Soybean Meal
The main reason soybean meal stands out as a feed raw material is that it is a high-quality plant protein source.
The assessment does not look only at the crude protein content. Parameters such as:
- Amino acid profile
- Protein quality
- Crude fat
- Crude fibre
- Moisture
- Processing characteristics
are also taken into account.
These characteristics can directly affect the product’s value in animal feeding.
Why Is Heat Treatment Important in Soybean Meal?
Some natural components found in soybeans can reduce animals’ ability to make use of nutrients.
That is why it is important for soybeans to be properly processed and heat-treated.
Insufficient or unsuitable processing can reduce the product’s feeding value. Excessive heat treatment, on the other hand, can reduce the availability of proteins.
So when assessing soybean meal, processing quality should be considered as well as the protein content.
In Which Animals Is Soybean Meal Used?
Soybean meal can be used in the feeds of different animal species.
Its main uses are:
- Poultry feeds
- Dairy cattle feeds
- Beef cattle feeds
- Sheep and goat feeds
- Compound feeds for other animal species
The amount and way it is used are determined according to the animal species, age, production period and the other components of the total ration.
What to Look for When Buying Soybean Meal
A single parameter is not enough to assess the quality of soybean meal.
The main points that can be considered in assessing the product are:
- Protein content
- Moisture
- Fat content
- Fibre
- Amino acid profile
- Processing quality
- The physical condition of the product
- Origin and supply source
- Certification status for organic products
For raw materials to be used in feed production in particular, it is important to assess analysis results together with the product’s intended use.
Organic Soybean Meal
Organic soybean meal is produced by processing soybeans from an organic production system.
To be traded as organic, the product must meet the relevant organic regulations and certification requirements.
For organic soybean meal, therefore, not only the nutritional values but also the product’s organic status and the related documents should be assessed.
The Difference Between Soybean Meal and Soybeans
Soybeans and soybean meal are not the same product.
Soybeans contain different nutritional components, chiefly oil and protein, while soybean meal is a feed raw material with a more concentrated protein content, obtained through processing in which most of the oil is separated.
The two products therefore have different purposes in feeds and are used differently in the ration.
Summary
Soybean meal is an important feed raw material in animal feeding, above all because it is a high-quality plant protein source.
But the product’s value is not determined by its protein content alone.
Protein quality, amino acid profile, processing method, moisture, fat, fibre, intended use and the product’s overall quality characteristics should be assessed together.
For organic soybean meal, the product’s organic status and certification must also be verified.