U.S. Soy’s Role in Animal Nutrition Industry and Future Research Priorities

An international Animal Nutrition Working Group (ANWG) workshop examined the critical role of U.S. Soy in non-ruminants’ efficient nutrition. More than 40 U.S. and international representatives from the animal nutrition industry, researchers, and academia took part in the ANWG workshop held on August 19 and 20 in Chicago.

Dr. Gonzalo Mateos of the University of Madrid, Spain and Dr. Roy Brister of Tyson Foods, USA were engrossed in a discussion with U.S. colleagues during the poultry nutrition panel identifying research priorities for soy

The workshop looked at soybean meal energy improvement and development of nutritional knowledge relevant to U.S. soybean meal usage and improvements. Participants reviewed soy’s nutritional value for feeding animals, anti-nutritive factors present and ways of eliminating them, and utilization in animal feeds as well as future challenges of using soy as a key source of protein in animal feeding.
The advantage of U.S. Soy’s higher amino acids digestibility was also discussed in the context of antibiotic free production around the world and the growing importance of animal health. It is well known that animals fed with poorly digestible ingredients and diets are at risk of developing larger intestinal microbial populations, particularly in stressful environments. In such conditions and in the absence of antibiotic growth promoters, there will be an increase in variability in animal performances. The results of recent research conducted at Madrid University, Spain demonstrated the superiority of U.S. soybean meal in amino acids digestibility compared to other origins, which should help nutritionists to formulate for optimum nutrition.

Dr. Keenan McRoberts, VP, Meal Strategy at the United Soybean Board (USB), leads discussions during the ANWG workshop

Dr. Janet Remus, Technical Services Director at DuPont discussed soy trypsin inhibitors. Discussion included how to better understand trypsin inhibitors and ways to process soybeans and suppress anti nutritional factors impairing digestion in non-ruminant animals.
The ANWG meeting helped participants to better understand and agree how to position U.S. Soy as a long-term viable product versus competing products. The workshop also set key direction and priorities in soy research for the coming period.