Comparing Soybean Meal and Full-fat Soybeans for Young Pigs

A trial was conducted to test the effect of finely grinding soybean meal and full-fat soybean on ileal digestibility of dietary components and digestive traits of young pigs. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments arranged factorial (two soybean products and two particle sizes) with six pigs per treatment. Diets formulated to contain 2,490 kcal NE/kg and 1.28% available lysine were fed from 23 to 45 days of age. The main difference among them was the mean particle size of the soybean products used (47 and 881 ?m for the soybean meal and 41 and 778 ?m for the full-fat soybean. In all cases the source tested supplied 5.5% of the dietary crude protein. The ideal digestion of dietary components, the pH of the gastrointestinal tract and the weight of digestive organs and spleen were measured at 45 days of age. Particle size did not affect any trait studied (P>=0.10). Type of soybean product had no effect on the ideal digestion of the crude protein or amino acids (P>=0.10). However, pigs fed the soybean meal diets had higher ideal digestion of organic matter (0.765 vs. 0.705) and gross energy (0.761 vs. 0.711) than pigs fed the full-fat soybean diets (P<=0.001). Pigs fed SBM had heavier pancreas (2.3 vs. 1.9 g/kg body weight; P<=0.05) and livers (35.9 vs. 32.7 g/kg body weight; P<=0.01) than pigs fed FFSB. The researchers concluded that pigs fed soybean meal had better digestibility of organic matter and gross energy than pigs fed full-fat soybean meal and that fine grinding of the two soy protein sources does not affect nutrient digestibility.

Valencia, D.G. and co-workers. 2008. Soybean meal and fullfat soybean on nutrient digestibility and digestive traits in young pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 86:448/J. Dairy Sci. 91:448 (Abstract138).