Soybean Meal in Poultry Diets

Randy Mitchell, PhDVice-President, Technical Services

Perdue Farms, Inc.

Perdue Farms, Inc● $6 billion total sales (2/3 foods; 1/3 Agribusiness)● Family-owned and privately held since 1920● Jim Perdue is third-generation Perdue to lead the company

● Third largest broiler and 8th largest turkey producer in US.● Largest producer of Organic chicken and leader in Antibiotic

free chicken, turkey (and Pork!)● Agribusiness includes soy crushing, grain, trading and export● OUR VISION: To be the most trusted name in food and

agricultural products.

Soybean Meal Use in Poultry

● Soybean Meal serves as an excellent balance of protein for poultry diets (except for Methionine).

● It serves as the major protein source and base ingredient for nearly all poultry diets.

● Properly Processed Meal has excellent AA digestibility● Average Soymeal Inclusion in Poultry Feeds (Agristats Oct’12):

● Starter – 29% (range 20% - 36%)● Grower – 23% (range 15% - 28%)● Withdrawal – 18% (range 9% - 22%)

Soybean Meal Use in Poultry

● Major negatives for poultry include:● Indigestible carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) ● Low energy to poultry● Low Phosphorus Digestibility● Trypsin Inhibitor● High Potassium(?)

● High inclusion above 35% in broilers can result in litter quality issues.

Pressure on Inclusion of Soybean Meal

● The focus on using alternative ingredients to lower cost has put pressure on meal use. ● Animal By-Products (Feather Meal, Meat/bone Meal)● DDGS● Canola Meal● Corn Gluten Meal● Peanut Meal● Import Meal and beans?

Current Trends Affecting Soybean Meal Usage

● Formulating to the Digestible Amino Acids requirements versus Crude Protein.● Many Nutritionists are removing or lowering the

crude protein threshold and looking at key amino

acids (now up to 4th or 5th limiting).

Amino Acids as a Percentage of Protein

Amino Acid Soybean Meal Corn DDGSLysine 6.12% 3.42%

Methionine 1.34% 1.98%

Threonine 3.90% 3.73%

Tryptophan 1.34% 0.80%

Arginine 7.29% 4.30%

Isoleucine 4.54% 3.65%

Valine 4.73% 4.87%

Current Trends Affecting Soybean Meal Usage

● Enzymes to improve phosphorus digestibility (Phytase).

● Higher yield breeds with higher protein requirements.

● Use of Lower energy diets.

Future Trends that could affect Soybean Meal Usage

● Availability of more synthetic amino acids (i.e. isoleucine, valine, arginine)

● Proteases to improve protein digestion (lower overall dietary protein).

● Trend towards all veggie diets?● Environmental regulations (N)?

How to improve soybean meal value

● Low-Oligosaccharide varieties to increase energy content

● Maintain High Protein Meal● Processing factors

How to improve soybean meal value

● Low-Oligosaccharide varieties to increase energy content● Raffinose and Stachyose are not utilized well in

monogastrics.● Varieties with lower Raff/Stach and higher sucrose

improve ME of poultry around 100 kcals/lb.

How to improve soybean meal value

● Maintain High Protein Meal● Higher Protein Beans = Higher Protein Meal

● The value of soybean meal is driven by protein level.● A trend towards lower protein meal?● Beans with higher oil and lower protein tend to produce

lower protein meal thereby reducing its value.

How to improve soybean meal value

● Processing Factors:● Lower Fiber (improved dehulling?)● Continue focus on processing quality

● Low trypsin inhibitor● High amino acid availability

● Grind Size ● Optimize for Poultry

Where should Soybean Meal be in 5 years?

● What would make poultry use more domestic soybean meal?

● Make alternatives discount to the point of taking export.● Improved Energy utilization● Better Protein Quality (lower N output)● Fewer Concerns about litter quality

Thank you