Three experiments were conducted to determine whether removal of oligosaccharides by ethanol extraction would enhance growth and performance of weanling pigs. Pigs fed ethanol-extracted soybean meal had lower daily feed intake and lower nitrogen retention than pigs fed diets containing oligosaccharides. Adding oligosaccharides to a diet that contain no soy protein had no effect on average daily gain or gain/feed. These studies indicated that in contrast to poultry, the growth of weanling pigs were not negatively impacted by the sucrose, raffinose and stachyose normally present in soybean meal; however, the specific effects of the individual oligosaccharides, raffinose and stachyose, were not determined.

McCalla, J.M. and co-workers. 1998. Effects of oligosaccharides in soybean meal on performance of weanling pigs. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Abstracts p54.