Soybean Checkoff-Funded Soybean Meal and Soybean Hull Studies
Soybean growers through their checkoff program are investing in soybean research projects targeted at expanding soybean meal use. A study funded by the United Soybean Board (www.soybean.org) has compiled a listing of the various production research projects; soybean composition studies; utilization projects and technology transfer activities that are funded in part by the soybean checkoff. This report found that on October 1, 2006, soybean growers were funding 450 projects with a total investment of $29.1 million. Listed below are the checkoff-funded soybean meal and soybean hull research projects underway:

Soy-in-aquaculture research program; Paul Brown, Project Leader (Purdue University).
This project seeks to continue work began in 2005 with marine shrimp. Research with shrimps will be a combination of laboratory studies coupled with field demonstration projects. The highly integrated and collaborative nature of this series of studies should result in expansion of soybean meal into new rapidly growing markets.

Identification of nutritional barriers for the culture of pompano; Allen Davis and Robert Reigh, Project Leaders (Auburn University and Louisiana State University).
The specific goals of this project are to evaluate the response of pompano to diets with increasing levels of soybean meal when other nutritional factors are held constant; validate current practical diet formulations; determine if the depressed growth rate is reproducible in the laboratory; and determine whether the sometimes observed reduced performance is due to a possible vitamin deficiency or anti-nutrients present in soybean meal.

Optimum level of soybean meal in sow lactation diets; Gary Allee (University of Missouri).
The goals of this project are to determine the optimum levels of soybean meal in diets for parity one and parity two high-producing sows during lactation in a commercial environment. It is essential that we are able to follow subsequent performance and evaluate the influence of treatments during lactation not only on litter size, but also longevity in the breeding herd.

Evaluation of Louisiana produced extruded expelled soybean meal for pigs and chickens; Lee Southern and T.K. Lavergne (Louisiana State University).
This project will determine the feeding value of a Louisiana-produced extruded-expelled soybean meal for pigs and chickens compared to a typical soybean meal. Complete analyses and feeding study results will be provided to feed mills and poultry/swine producers.

Evaluation of different levels of soybean hulls as a supplement for steer calves from weaning until ryegrass turnout; Dave Sanson (Louisiana State University).
The objectives of this project are to: 1) Evaluate soybean hulls as a supplement energy feed on performance of growing calves; 2) Determine the optimum level of soybean hulls for calves consuming hay; and 3) Evaluate the economic value of soybean hulls for winter feeding of steer calves.

Improving the nutritive value of soybeans for animal feed applications; Monty Kerley (University of Missouri).
This project will involve mechanical or chemical modification of soy protein to develop new sources of bypass protein.

Identification of soybean proteins which are allergenic to young pigs; Monty Kerley and Hari Krishnan, (Department of Animal Science and ARS/USDA, University of Missouri-Columbia).
The goal of this research is to eliminate soy proteins that cause allergic reactions in the gut of young pigs.

Additional information on the various checkoff-funded research projects can be obtained by contacting the individual researchers. This listing is not representative of the many research projects underway to improve soybean meal use in livestock, poultry and aquaculture feeds; these projects are listed because they are being supported in-part with soybean grower checkoff funds.

The soybean checkoff program is also funding several research groups that are aggressively trying to improve the composition of soybeans to better meet the user needs. In the next Soybean Meal INFOsource newsletter some of these projects will be highlighted. Successful completion of these studies could greatly improve the competitive position of soybean meal in livestock, poultry and aquaculture feeds.