The effect of protease pre-treatment of raw or micronized soyabean meal on the growth performance and carcass composition in liquid fed grower and finisher pigs

Abstract

It is well documented that grower and finisher pigs do not utilise raw soyabean protein well (Crenshaw and Danielson 1985), whereas processed soyabean meals contain high quality protein that is well digested by the pig (true ileal lysine digestibility 86% - NRC 1998). Laboratory studies showed significant (p<0.001) increases in in vitro nitrogen digestibility of raw soyabean meal (RSB) and micronized soyabean meal (MSB) after protease treatment (Beal et al.1998). Indicating that there is potential for improving the nutritional value of these protein sources with exogenous proteases. The objective of this study was to determine if these increases were reflected in the pig.