The benefits of soybean meal in animal feed Soybeans have played a major role in animal diets since the crop first arrived in America in the 1800s when farmers mainly planted soy as forage for grazing cattle. By the early 1900s, researchers were exploring soy’s potential beyond forage as a source of both protein and oil. As domestic soybean production ramped up after World War II, new technologies and processing methods improved the quality of soy byproducts, making the meal safer for animals to consume. Properly processed soybean meal offers the most complete nutrient profile of any common feedstock. Some of its most significant nutritious benefits include: Protein Soybean meal contains 47-49% protein and 3% crude fiber if the hulls are removed before processing. Processors often leave some hulls in tact or add separated hulls back into the material after processing to create a meal with about 43-46% protein and at least 6% crude fiber. Monogastric (single-stomached) animals, like pigs and chickens, don’t digest dietary fibers very well, so they prefer low-fiber, high-protein feeds. Soybean meal offers the highest protein content of any common oilseed or grain, supplying the most complete source of plant-based protein. Amino acids Soybean meal provides all the essential amino acids that monogastric animals require—especially those like lysine and tryptophan that are lacking in corn and other cereal grains. Plus, the amino acids in soybeans are highly digestible. Compared to other oilseed meals, soybean offers the highest lysine digestibility and ranks high in methionine, cystine, and threonine. Energy Soybean meal offers more metabolizable energy than any other plant protein, especially when processed in a mechanical press like the Anderson Expeller. The press leaves about 5% residual oil in the meal, which boosts fat-based energy in feed. Soy meal combines all these nutrient-dense benefits into one ingredient at a price that makes it cost-effective for livestock operators. Today, nearly 98% of the world’s soybean meal ends up in animal feed—primarily to supplement the diets of farm-raised poultry, pigs, and fish, as well as companion pets like dogs.