Evaluating the Effect of Soybean Hulls on Amino Acid Digestibility in Swine

Purdue University 2002 Swine Research Report. Due to the advantageous nutrient characteristics of soybean meal, this feedstuff has been the predominant protein source used to formulate swine diets in the United States. As environmental issues continue to gain momentum, more emphasis is being placed upon efficient use of feedstuffs such as soybean meal. One of these concerns lies with minimizing dietary nutrient excretion into the environment while maximizing growth and returns in modern swine production systems. While soybean meal serves as a good dietary source of amino acids in commercial swine diets, improvements could be recognized through the characterization of inherent factors affecting digestibility of these nutrients. Soybean hulls constitute one of the differences between high- and low-protein soybean meals and therefore are a contributing factor to dietary nutrient utilization. By understanding the impact of soy hulls on nutrient metabolism, not only can this inexpensive alternative feedstuff be utilized, but more precise rations can be formulated while gaining the potential benefits of fiber in growing swine diets. Therefore, this study was designed to quantify the effect of soy hulls on nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities in soybean meal fed to growing swine.