This experiment aimed to determine the feeding value of soybean meal (SBM) produced from a variety of soybeans bred for increased amino acid content, compared to soybean meals from conventional soybeans. The nutritionally enhanced variety of soybeans (IP-AA) was processed by Insta-Pro International alongside conventional soybeans sourced by Insta-pro (IP-Conv.) using high shear dry extrusion. Additionally, conventional solvent extracted soybean meal (UA-Conv.) were acquired from University of Arkansas Poultry Feed Mill. Prior to diet formulation, all soy ingredients were submitted for total amino acid and proximate analysis. Three corn and soy-based diets were formulated based on energy value and amino acid profile with each diet containing a different soybean meal source. Diet 1 contained UA-Conv. SBM, Diet 2 contained IP-Conv. SBM, and Diet 3 contained IP-AA SBM. Diets were fed to 540 Cobb 500 male broilers placed in 10 replicate pens of 18 birds and live performance was assessed during the starter (0-14d), grower (14- 28d), and finisher (28-45d) phases. At d 45, eight birds from each pen were randomly selected and processed for evaluation of carcass traits and incidence of woody breast. Carcass parameters measured include live weight as well as fat, breast, tender, wing, and leg chilled yields. Additionally, 2 birds per pen were assessed for gut integrity using FITC-D oral gavage methods. All performance data were analyzed using a One-way ANOVA using JMP Pro 18 software with diet as the fixed effect and block as a random effect with pen as the experimental unit. Statistical significance was considered at P ≤ 0.05. There were no significances observed between the dietary treatments on bird live performance or processing characteristics. The experimental soybean line was able to be incorporated into the diet without decreasing performance while improving least-cost diet formulation. The reduction in diet cost was largely driven by the increased oil content of extruded soybean meals compared to solvent-extracted soybean meal. Moreover, diets containing the experimental soybean line contained the same protein level and amino acid profile with a lower inclusion level of soybean meal and similar crystalline amino acid supplementation.

Wells-Crafton, S., K. Nelson, V. Slick, E. Greene and M. Kidd. 2025. Soybean Genotype Amino Acid Selection: Impacts on diet linear programming and broiler performance. 2025 International Poultry Scientific Forum, Abstract M108.