Soybean meal is the gold standard for protein supply in animal feeding programs around the world with approximately 278 MMT of production annually (USDA, 2024/25: Soybean Meal | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service) However, not all soybean meal is created equal. Recent research and soybean survey data shows that the nutrient profile of soybean meal varies by origin and region, with important implications for all members of the soy value chain. For soybean producers in the northern U.S., soy processors and animal nutritionists – understanding these differences is key to maximizing value, optimizing feed formulations and ensuring consistent animal performance.

Northern US soybeans: The nutritional advantage

The northern U.S. states produce soybeans that are uniquely adapted to cooler climates and shorter growing seasons. These environmental factors not only affect yields, but also influence the composition of the soybean and thus the nutritional value of the meal produced. Some of the key findings from recent reviews (United States Soybean Quality, Annual Report 2024, University of Minnesota) include:

• Stable protein and oil: Northern U.S. soybeans maintained protein and oil levels in line with historical U.S. averages, demonstrating resilience and reliability for animal feed applications
• Higher sucrose content: Soybeans grown in northern regions consistently show higher sucrose levels. This boosts the energy value, palatability and prebiotic effect of soybean meal, especially important for young animals such as broiler chicks and piglets.
• Consistent amino acid profiles: Lysine as a percent of crude protein averaged 6.7-6.8% across all U.S. regions, with the CAAV or sum of the five key amino acids (lysine, methionine, cysteine, threonine, tryptophan) of 14.6%.

How does US soybean meal compare globally?

In a recent meta-analysis of 18 studies (Ibanez et al., 2020) clear differences are revealed on the nutrient profiles of soybean meals from the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, and India:

Nutrient or Specification	USA	Argentina	Brazil	India
Crude Protein (%)	46.4	45.5	47.0	46.3
Crude Fat (%)	1.67	1.66	1.78	1.11
Crude Fiber (%)	3.88	4.32	5.03	6.55
Sucrose (%)	6.99	6.41	5.24	4.19
Raffinose (%)	0.95	1.15	1.33	1.70
Ash (%)	6.54	6.54	6.29	7.48
AMEn CVB Broiler* (kcal/kg)	2146	2048	2096	1974
Total Lysine (% CP)	6.23	6.19	6.12	6.12
Total Methionine (% CP)	1.38	1.37	1.33	1.32
Total Cysteine (% CP)	1.47	1.45	1.42	1.35
Total Threonine (% CP)	3.88	3.89	3.84	3.78
Total Tryptophan (% CP)	1.41	1.39	1.37	1.39
Protein Dispersibility Index (%)	17.8	14.0	13.5	20.9

 

What stands out for US soybean meal?

• Higher sucrose and energy: U.S. soybean meal exhibits higher sucrose and lower fiber content – translating to consistently higher energy values for poultry
• Superior amino acid profile: Total and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of lysine and other key amino acids is higher in U.S. soybean meal, supporting improved animal growth and feed efficiency
• Lower variability: U.S. soybean meal shows less nutrient variability (Aguirre et al., 2024), providing potential for reducing feed formulation safety margins and more precise least-cost diets

Implications for the soy value chain

For feed manufacturers and nutritionists:

• Precision nutrition – Formulating diets with U.S. soybean meal allows for lower inclusion rates and reduces reliance on supplemental amino acids and fats/oils – due to contribution of higher digestible amino acid content and energy density.
• Cost savings – Recent economic analyses show that formulating with higher quality U.S. soybean meal reduced feed costs by $7.66/MT in broilers compared to South American sources.
• Consistent performance – Lower variability in U.S. soybean meal ensures predictable animal performance and provides potential for reduced safety margins in formulations.

For soy processors

• Quality control pays off – U.S. soybean meal typically meets or exceeds global standards for protein dispersibility index (PDI), KOH solubility, and low trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) – all indicators of optimal processing and high protein quality.
• Marketing advantage – Through documentation and communicating the superior nutrient profile of northern U.S. soybean meal, processors can offer a premium product to global markets and build trusted relationships with feed manufacturers.

For soybean producers

• Stability – The growing and storage conditions in northern states support consistent soybean quality even in challenging years.
• Economic resilience – Leveraging the superior nutrient profile data on protein, sucrose, and amino acid content provides a means to differentiate crop and maintain market demand.

Animal performance: The ultimate test

Controlled animal trials confirm that the nutrient advantages of U.S. soybean meal translate directly to better animal performance:

• Broilers: Diets formulated with U.S. soybean meal result in higher body weight gain and improved feed conversion ratios compared to diets with soybean meal of other origins (Aguirre et al., 2024; Serrano et al., 2013).
• Swine: Piglets fed U.S. soybean meal show greater average daily gain and lower incidence of post-weaning diarrhea, attributed to higher protein digestibility and lower anti-nutritional factors (Guzman et al., 2016).

Beyond protein: Why energy and digestibility matters

While crude protein is often the metric of interest, it’s the combination of energy, digestible amino acids, and low anti-nutritional factors that drives the true value in soybean meal. Northern U.S. soybeans’ higher sucrose content elevates energy but also improves palatability and feed intake – especially important for young animals. Lower fiber further enhances digestibility and feed efficiency.

Key takeaways for the northern soy value chain

• Northern U.S. soybeans produce meal with distinct nutritional advantages – superior digestible amino acids, higher sucrose and reliable protein quality – making the meal a preferred choice for animal feeding programs worldwide.
• Processors and nutritionists that leverage these differences can optimize feed formulations, reduce costs, and improve animal health and productivity.
• Soybean producers in northern states can harness nutrient data to differentiate their crop and capture added value in the marketplace.

As global demand for efficient, sustainable animal production grows, the unique profile of northern U.S. soybean meal stands out as a key asset for the entire soy value chain. By working together, producers, processors and nutritionists can ensure that the value of northern soybeans is fully recognized and rewarded in the highly competitive feed ingredient market.

For more detailed data, analysis, and technical support, visit Northern Soy Marketing’s website at soyquality.com.