The powerful partnership between pork and soy

Tim Bardole knows that partnership from both sides. The Rippey, Iowa, Soy Checkoff℠ farmer-leader grows soybeans and raises pigs, and he has seen firsthand what happens when his pigs get more soybean meal in their diets.

“The difference is amazing,” Bardole says. “When there’s a higher rate of soybean meal and fewer synthetics and DDGS in their feed, not only are my pigs healthier, but I can tell that microbes are breaking down manure in the pit more efficiently and the air quality in my barns is better.”

Soybean meal is a cornerstone of swine nutrition, providing high-quality protein and essential amino acids. Research funded by the Soy Checkoff is helping both industries better understand that relationship and uncover additional value in soybean meal.

A partnership built on feed

Several years ago, researchers noticed something unexpected when an integrator observed that pigs battling porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) not only survived at higher rates but also performed better when fed diets with higher levels of soybean meal.¹

That observation sparked additional research supported by the Soy Checkoff. Today, the checkoff is expanding those studies to better understand how soybean meal helps pigs and other livestock cope with disease and other stressors, including extreme heat.

“Soybean meal contains bioactive compounds, such as isoflavones and saponins, that do more than provide protein,” explains Brooke Jasek, United Soybean Board director of technical animal nutrition. “These compounds remain in the meal after processing and help support an animal’s metabolism during periods of stress.”

Jasek says that research could help set soybean meal apart in livestock diets.

“The more we understand the value soybean meal provides beyond nutrition, the better positioned we are to demonstrate its value throughout the livestock industry,” she says.

Courtney Knupp, United Soybean Board CEO, sees the payoff for both industries.

“Having worked closely with pork producers, I know firsthand that the success of the pork and soybean industries is deeply connected,” says Knupp. “When we invest in research that demonstrates the value of soybean meal in supporting swine health and performance, we’re doing more than advancing animal agriculture. We’re strengthening pork producers, creating greater demand for U.S. soybeans, and delivering meaningful returns to the farmers who invest in the Soy Checkoff. That’s the power of partnership, and that’s checkoff dollars working for farmers.”

To learn more about soybean meal and swine health, visit the U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health, which provides research, technical resources and practical information on soy-based solutions for the poultry, swine, beef and dairy industries.

References

1. Journal of American Science, "Effects of dietary soybean meal concentration on growth and immune response of pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus." (2015).