Swine
Enhancing the nutritional value of soybean seed meal to meet the amino acid requirements of livestock;  Monty Kerley and Hari Krishnan (University of Missouri).
The overall goal of this research is to improve the density of amino acids in soybean protein that are nutritionally relevant and limited in availability commercially.

Estimation of energy content of low-oligosaccharide soybean meal by growing-finishing pigs;  David Holzgraefe (ADM Alliance Nutrition).
The goal is to increase the feed value of soybean to animals which aligns with the Better Bean Initiative, and coordination and support of animal agriculture.  The research should allow for the identification of technology that would improve the fermentability of oilseed and processed grain fibers.

Inclusion of low-oligosaccharide soybean meal and soybean white flakes in nursery diets;  David Holzgraefe (ADM Alliance Nutrition). This research involves nursery studies to compare pig performance when fed diets containing traditional vs. low oligosaccharide SBM, and traditional vs. low oligosaccharide soybean white flakes.  These studies will help assess the value of soybeans with reduced oligosaccharide levels.

Is the soy allergen effect on pigs a myth? Monty Kerley (University of Missouri).
The goal of this research is to generate soybean meal that does not reduce performance of the young pig.  The objectives are to determine the feed value of low oligosaccharide soybean meal and then assess various commercial enzymes for their ability to hydrolyze the oligosaccharides present in soybean meal.

Soybean Hulls
Microbial digestion of soybean hulls; Monty Kerley (University of Missouri). 
The goal is to increase the feed value of soybean to animals which aligns with the Better Bean Initiative, and coordination and support of animal agriculture.  The research should allow for the identification of technology that would improve the fermentability of oilseed and processed grain fibers.

Utilization of soybean hulls when fed in combination with distillers grains plus solubles in feedlot diets; Terry Mader and Galen Erickson (Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, University of Nebraska).
The goal of this project is to provide cattle producers with the knowledge to make decisions about using soybean hulls in feedlot finishing diets.  The specific objectives are to determine the optimum level of soybean hulls that should be fed with distillers grains plus solubles in feedlot finishing diets; and assess the value of soybean hulls in a feedlot finishing diet when fed with distillers grains plus solubles.

Soybean Processing
Effects of different temperatures during mechanical soybean extrusion on soybean meal protein quality; Dan Kiffen (Pennsylvania State University).  The objective of the project is to determine the optimal temperature for mechanical extruding soybean meal that results in the highest amount of rumen by-pass protein without compromising the intestinal digestibility. The project will focus on determining the optimal temperature for mechanical soybean extrusion using rumen - cannulated cows and in-vitro laboratory digestion.

Soybean growers are funding several additional research projects to improve the composition of soybeans to better meet the needs of the soybean consumers.  These studies involve research to increase the protein and amino acid content of soybeans; studies to reduce oligosaccharide levels and increase the energy levels of soybean meal; studies to change some of the minor components in soybeans; and research to modify the soy oil fraction.  A listing of all projects can be found on the Web at www.soybeanchecoffresearch.org.

“Reasons to Use Soybean Meal”
At a meeting recently the question was asked, “What are the main reasons for using soybean meal in livestock and poultry rations?”  The person asking the question did not want technical reasons, they wanted general principals, rather than those that supported the scientific rational.  The editor of this newsletter developed the following list.

• SBM is the premium protein ingredient that complements feed grains to produce optimum livestock and poultry performance.  Its amino acid balance complements the amino acid pattern of corn to produce diets to support optimum economic performance;

• SBM is a time-tested feed ingredient---SBM has been widely studied for most of the past century---No other feed ingredient has been so thoroughly studied as SBM.  There are volumes of technical papers and reports that support SBM use;

• SBM’s value to the feed formulator is based on its composition, price and availability; other meal benefits include being a palpable protein ingredient without toxins, residues, etc;

• SBM is a highly available source of digestible amino acids and energy—Few other protein ingredients have consistently high levels of digestible amino acids needed for optimum animal, poultry and aquaculture production;

• SBM is a rich source of total phosphorus, important to livestock and poultry growth;

• SBM is widely available to the feed formulator.  Volume amounts are available year-around for long-term ration planning;

• SBM is a uniform product that the nutritionists can plan on for providing key nutrients important for least-cost computer feed formulation; and

• SBM is produced by mega-plants that are carefully controlled to maximize a consistent quality product in both compositional and physical properties.  In-plant monitoring of processing and products assure that SBM is a consistent, quality protein ingredient for the formulator of feeds.

For these results, SBM is clearly the protein of choice for the feed industry.