Beyond Protein: Soybean Meal Helps Swine Weather Respiratory Disease

Respiratory diseases hurt swine operations on both the input and output side of the equation: feed costs rise as performance plummets.

New research suggests that by using soybean meal, you can mitigate these challenges as a cost-effective tool for maintaining pig health and performance during outbreaks.

   

When pigs are infected with respiratory diseases such as swine respiratory disease (SRD) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), the effects are significant. Pigs eat less, grow slower, convert feed poorly and may require expensive treatments.

What this means for you is higher feed costs per pound of gain, lighter carcasses and reduced value in pigs.

Finding ways to offset these negative effects can have a profound impact on your bottom line. Research now shows soybean meal can play a vital role in doing just that.

   

The latest research shows that soybean meal can minimize the negative effects of respiratory diseases in pigs.

The 2023 study “Soybean meal mitigates respiratory disease–impaired growth in pigs” (R. Dean Boyd, Mike Johnston, James Usry, Paul Yeske and Aaron Gaines), available as part of the Soy Checkoff’s “Soy Effect” series, outlines how pigs fed higher levels of soybean meal (38% to 50% of the diet) were able to maintain growth and feed efficiency despite an unexpected outbreak of swine respiratory disease. Pigs on lower soybean meal diets experienced losses in growth and efficiency. Additional research has confirmed these findings.

Soybean meal offers more than amino acids and protein in diets. The benefits demonstrated in this latest research are likely due to natural bioactive compounds like isoflavones, saponins and antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation, support immune function and allow pigs to use more nutrients and energy on growth rather than fighting disease.

   

The takeaways of this research are that high soybean meal diets can help insulate your operation from risk of these types of disease. Results show:

● High soybean meal diets lead to better average daily gain and improved feed conversion efficiency compared to low soybean meal diets.

● Pigs on high soybean meal diets during infection require 13.2 lbs (6 kg) less feed per pig to reach the same weight as those on low-SBM diets.

● Cost-effective periods for elevated soybean meal may be during winter-spring seasons when barns are closed tight and swine respiratory disease is often a problem.

   

The research demonstrates that while amino acid profiles and protein content are important benefits of soybean meal, additional value has previously been overlooked.

When your operation faces respiratory disease outbreaks or environmental stress periods, these benefits may be worth far more than the ingredient’s traditional nutritional value suggests.

As the swine industry continues to face evolving disease challenges and increasing pressure to reduce antibiotic use, understanding and leveraging soybean meal’s full potential could provide you with a valuable tool for maintaining animal health and economic viability.