Soybean Meal

Soybean meal is one of the major protein sources for feed and is typically traded on the basis of protein content. Depending upon the processing at crushing plant, removal of the hulls will increase the protein content; therefore, dehulled soybean meal should have higher protein content than non-dehulled soybean meal. It is, therefore, necessary to measure the fiber content in soybean meal to differentiate between dehulled and non-dehulled. Dehulled soybean meal normally contains maximum 3.5% crude fiber, while non-dehulled soybean meal contains more than 6% fiber and may reach 7%. Less fiber and ash translate to not only higher protein but also higher energy, lysine, methionine, and other amino acids. Higher “protein” can also result from the addition of nonprotein nitrogen such as urea, ammonium compounds, or even melamine as most “protein” analysis is really measuring N content. Therefore, it is necessary to test the level of nonprotein nitrogen if soybean meal is suspected to be ad