Unlocking Soybean Meal, NOVUS Shows the Value of Protease - INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

Soybean meal (SBM) is the most used source of dietary protein in many areas of the world, providing critical amino acids for poultry and swine. However, it isn’t a perfect feed source. Reports suggest that genetic advances focused on improving yield have resulted in reduced nutrient composition while anti-nutritional factors like trypsin inhibitor (TI), impact protein access, digestibility, and gut health.

Understanding the relevance of anti-nutritional factors in SBM, specifically TI, can help optimize performance and health in monogastric animals. Enzyme feed additives can go beyond unlocking nutrients to support gut health and feed cost savings, so Feedinfo spoke to NOVUS Feed Enzymes Global Leader José Otávio B. Sorbara, Ph.D. We sat down to discuss new information NOVUS has about soybean meal from different parts of the world and how enzymes can play a key role in helping nutritionists and producers get more from raw feed.

[Feedinfo] Before we talk about your research, let’s discuss soybean meal itself. Do you believe it is the best protein source for chickens and pigs?

[José Otávio B. Sorbara] Soybean meal (SBM) is not only one of the best protein sources for poultry and swine but also the most widely available, with global production at around 250 million metric tons. China produces approximately 30% of this, the United States 19%, and Brazil 16%. However, we could see this landscape shifting as the U.S. expands its crushing capacity to meet the growing demand for biodiesel in California.

Despite its high quality, there is still room for improvement when considering the amino acid digestibility of SBM. Variability in soybean growing conditions and the processing that separates the oil from the meal contributes to this. It is also crucial to note that for soybean processors, overcooking soybeans increases costs while undercooking can lead to cost savings and higher margins but leaves anti-nutritional factors in the meal that impact nutrient availability.

[Feedinfo] NOVUS recently shared new research on soybean meal at the Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting in the U.S. What can you tell us about the findings?

TI are proteins that block endogenous proteases like trypsin and chymotrypsin, preventing animals from digesting proteins. The primary function of TI in soybeans and other grain legumes is to serve as a defense mechanism against insects. Soybean seeds that are more resistant to insect attacks are likely to have higher levels of TIs. Our findings indicate an increase in SBM with high TI levels, lower protein content, and reduced amino acid digestibility, which negatively impacts animal performance and significantly raises feed costs. Feed costs account for about 70% of poultry or swine production expenses. To avoid performance losses, nutritionists adjust feed formulations, making them more expensive to counteract the low crude protein, poor amino acid digestibility, and high TI levels.

It is important to note that our data aligns closely with findings presented by Professor Hari B.  Krishnan, a research molecular biologist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) who presented his talk, "Measurement and Effects of Trypsin Inhibitors in Soybean Meal" during this year’s symposium at the PSA Annual Meeting. This symposium highlighted that trypsin inhibitors are a growing concern for the poultry industry.

[Feedinfo] There are many factors impacting soybean meal nutrition. What do you think are the most important to address or understand when it comes to optimizing performance and health?

[José Otávio B. Sorbara] Several parameters impact SBM quality, including protein and amino acid content, solubility in potassium hydroxide (KOH), fiber, moisture, TI, and urease. These parameters help to predict the digestible amino acid content in a batch of SBM, allowing for precise diet formulation to achieve optimal performance at the lowest cost per kilogram of body weight. Depending on the price of SBM, feed costs can increase by as much as $30 USD per metric ton. All these parameters are important, but trypsin inhibitors are often overlooked by the soybean industry.

[Feedinfo] What tools do nutritionists and feed mills have access to that can help limit TI and/or unlock soybean meal nutrition?

[José Otávio B. Sorbara] Analyzing TI using wet chemistry is time-consuming and cumbersome. However, this process can now be replaced by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR). NOVUS has been working on the development and application of accurate and precise NIR calibration for trypsin inhibitors and amino acids for more than a decade. NIR allows us to analyze raw feed materials with almost immediate results. Once the issue is identified, a protease enzyme can be used to reduce TI and improve amino acid digestibility. Protease is the only enzyme that acts directly on protein, making it the sole enzyme capable of degrading TI and enhancing amino acid digestibility. Other enzymes, such as phytase and xylanase, have an indirect effect by releasing amino acids but do not impact TI.

Cibenza® Enzyme Feed Additive is a product NOVUS pioneered in the market, and today, we have the largest in vivo trial database with over 200 trials in poultry and nearly 100 trials in swine. Our product is a powerful solution for the market with impactfully high enzyme protein content.

[Feedinfo] What do you say to those who don’t see the value in protease?

[José Otávio B. Sorbara] We need to remember that even the adoption of feed-grade amino acids (lysine, methionine, and threonine) took almost 40 years to be fully implemented by the industry. Today, it is almost unthinkable to have a broiler chicken diet without these three amino acids.

The benefit of protease is directly linked to the amount of undigestible amino acids available at the end of the ileum. Considering that the average amino acid digestibility of a typical corn and soybean meal (SBM) diet is around 85%, we have 15% undigestible amino acids. A powerful protease can reduce the undigestible amino acids by approximately 20%, or 3 percentage points. However, our research suggests the digestibility of a diet today is closer to 80%, making the undigestible amino acid 20%. So, the protease can reduce the undigestible amino acids by 25%, or 5 percentage points.  

The return on investment for a protease is very straightforward to calculate. When we apply a protease in a least-cost feed formulation, we typically replace 25 kg of SBM with 25 kg of corn or wheat. To calculate the savings, we subtract the cost of corn or wheat from the price of SBM and multiply the result by 0.025 (since 25 kg of SBM is replaced by corn or wheat per 1000 kg of feed). This gives you the gross savings. Subtract the cost of the protease per dose to get the net savings.

This calculation is crucial because the savings can vary significantly based on commodity prices. For example, in 2006, the savings when using a protease was around $2.00 USD per metric ton (MT) of feed. However, by the end of last year, the savings had increased to almost $6.00 USD per MT of feed.

This variation occurs not only between years but also due to local circumstances. In Brazil, for instance, there is a significant price difference between SBM and corn in the south and the mid-west regions, with differences reaching up to 30%. Therefore, using protease in the central-west of Brazil is more advantageous than in the south, although both regions benefit significantly from the savings.

* Data from Clicmercado.com.br

[Feedinfo] NOVUS recently acquired BioResource International, Inc. (BRI), a U.S.-based enzyme company with the goal of expanding NOVUS’ enzyme portfolio as well as growing the company’s innovation pipeline with BRI’s expertise in fermentation. Why are enzymes a focus for NOVUS? How do you see them fulfilling the long-term goals of NOVUS customers?

[José Otávio B. Sorbara] Enzymes are intrinsically linked to intelligent nutrition as enzymes optimize nutrient utilization. BRI has done a great job developing unique and powerful enzymes specifically for corn-based diets. Being based in the U.S., where corn is the primary ingredient for poultry and swine, provides a distinct advantage. This contrasts with enzyme providers based in Europe or Canada, where wheat is the main ingredient.

As a leader in intelligent nutrition, NOVUS’ priorities with the acquisition include investing further in functional proteins and the gut health segment, growing our portfolio, and achieving stronger control of our supply chain. Ultimately, we want to deliver more to our customers.

Published in association with Novus International, Inc.