Soybean meal is the by-product of the extraction of soybean oil. Several processes exist, resulting in different products. Soybean meal is usually classified for marketing by its crude protein content. High-protein types are obtained from dehulled seeds and contain 47-49% protein and 3% crude fiber (as-fed basis).
Soybean meal is the most important protein source used to feed poultry and livestock/ruminant animals. (Cattle, horse, pig, fish, sheep). Soybean Meal is the standard to which other protein sources are compared, and is a by-product of soybean oil extraction. Protein, fiber, and fat levels all vary with the process by which the oil is extracted. Soybean Meal is a highly palatable source of protein and is used often as the dominant source of protein in the rations of most farm animals, including ruminants, pigs, poultry, and aquaculture.
