High Protein Soybean Meal (DOC) for Poultry | Up to 50% Protein Dairy & Swine Feed

Soybean meal (SBM) is the gold-standard plant protein for animal feed, with 44-50% crude protein and the best amino acid balance of any oilseed meal.

It's made after oil is extracted from soybeans — the remaining de-oiled cake is ground into meal. Almost all of it goes to livestock.

Types you'll see on the market

• 44% protein (non-dehulled): Contains hulls, more fiber 42.5-44% protein, cheaper. Common for ruminants.
• 48% protein (dehulled / Hi-Pro): Hulls removed, 46.5-48% protein, 3.5-6% fiber, 0.5-1.5% fat. Standard for poultry and pigs.
• Other forms: Soybean expeller (7-8% fat), fermented soybean meal (more digestible for young chicks/piglets), organic / Non-GMO versions.

Typical spec for 50% Non-GMO DOC: Crude Protein 50% min, Moisture 10-12% max, Fiber 3.5-6%, Fat 0.5-1.5%.

Why it's used

• Protein: 44-50% protein, one of the highest among plant sources
• Amino acids: Rich in lysine, methionine, threonine — lysine has >90% digestibility and balances cereal-based diets. Good source of B and D group vitamins
• Energy: ∼12 MJ/kg DM ME, ∼4226 kcal/kg Gross Energy
• Digestibility: Heat-treated during manufacture to deactivate trypsin inhibitors

In the US, of all soybean meal fed: 48% goes to poultry, 26% to swine, 12% to beef cattle, 9% to dairy, 3% fish feed — so it's truly for all species.

Inclusion rates in practice

This depends on age and formulation, always get professional advice, but general guides:

• Poultry: Broilers/layers 15-35%, max around 20% in some commercial guides, up to 35% in high-performance US rations. Improves growth, FCR, weight gain.
• Swine: 15-25% starter, 10-20% grower-finisher, up to 35% in some US formulas
• Cattle, sheep, goats: 10-20% of diet, dairy uses it as rumen degradable protein source
• Horses, fish, pets: 10-20% typical

Watch-outs

• Must be heat-treated. Raw soy has trypsin inhibitors and urease that reduce digestion — commercial meal is already toasted.
• Anti-nutrients: Oligosaccharides ∼15% can cause gas/diarrhea in young non-ruminants
• Aflatoxin: Keep <50 ppb, store dry.
• Don't overfeed to ruminants: High rumen-degradable protein can waste nitrogen if not balanced with energy.