Soybean meal processing

Researchers at the University of Georgia conducted an experiment to determine the effects of soybean meal particle size on broiler performance. Soybean meal was obtained from a processing plant before (geometric mean diameter, 1,239 um) and after hammer milling (891um). The coarse soybean meal treatments improve bone ash (p<0.05), gain to feed ratios (P<0.01) and plasma phosphorus levels (P<0.01). A significant interaction was observed between diet type (normal soybean meal-corn diet and semipurified diet and the particle size) on growth and feed utilization due to coarse soybean meal eliciting a much more dramatic response when incorporated into the semipurified diet as opposed to the corn-soybean meal diet. These results suggest that large particle size soybean meal may be more efficiently utilized than fine particle size soybean meal in broiler diets.

Kilburn, J. and H.M. Edwards. 2004. The effect of particle size of commercial soybean meal on performance and nutrient utilization of broiler chicks. Poultry Sci. 83(3): 428-432.