Soybean Meal Effects on Gut History

Research in South Africa compared four diets containing different protein sources on pig performance and the histology of the intestine. Diets were formulated with the main protein source coming from milk powder plus fishmeal; milk power plus high protein (48%) soybean meal; fishmeal plus soybean meal; or soybean meal alone. The results indicated no significant differences between treatments for average daily gain, feed conversion, feed intake, or intestinal villus height. The researchers concluded that high protein soybean meal could be successfully included in weaning pig diets without effects on performance or gut histology.

Pieterse, E. and co-workers. 2000. The effects of dietary soyabean oil-cake meal on performance and gut histology of piglets. South African J. Animal Sci. 30(1): 62-66.