Language
- 中文
- English

Keep it handy! Technical Solutions for Reducing and Replacing Corn and Soybean Meal in Pig and Chicken Feed

Release date:

2021-04-22

1. Rapeseed meal and cake: Although rapeseed meal has a lower crude protein content compared to soybean meal, it boasts a higher methionine level while being lower in lysine and arginine, which leads to poorer digestibility. To improve the amino acid profile, it can be effectively combined with cottonseed meal. Typically, standard rapeseed meal can replace 40% to 50% of soybean meal, while "double-low" rapeseed meal—characterized by reduced levels of glucosinolates and erucic acid—can substitute up to 60% to 80% of soybean meal. Additionally, rapeseed meal has a relatively low energy value, so when replacing soybean meal, it’s advisable to supplement with适量 of oil or fat to ensure an optimal nutritional balance.

　　I. Key Points in Diet Formulation

　　(1) Determine the diet type. Based on the availability and market prices of alternative ingredients such as corn and soybean meal, evaluate their cost-effectiveness comprehensively, select suitable feed ingredients, and finalize the diet type.

　　(2) Appropriately set the dietary energy level. Refer to relevant feeding standards or manuals, and based on the specific physiological stages of the animals, determine the ideal net energy (for pigs) or metabolizable energy (for broilers and layer chickens) levels in the diet. Then, according to the recommended energy requirements for the animal breed or strain, establish the corresponding proportions of other nutritional components.

　　(3) Formulate low-protein diets based on available amino acids. Select appropriate amino acid balance patterns tailored to the animal’s specific physiological stages. Calculate the diet formulation using the actual measured amino acid values from feed ingredients (determined by wet chemistry or near-infrared methods) or by referencing available amino acid data in databases (such as standardized ileal digestibility values). Ensure adequate supplementation of essential amino acids while maintaining a balanced relationship between essential and non-essential amino acids, as well as with small peptides.

　　(Four) Appropriately consider the balance of other nutrients, including energy-nitrogen balance, fatty acid balance (with supplementation of linoleic acid or unsaturated fatty acids), vitamin balance, trace element balance, and electrolyte balance. Additionally, take into account factors such as nutrient sources, energy feed combinations, and protein feed combinations.

　　(5) Select and use enzyme preparations appropriately. Based on the types and levels of antinutritional factors present in ingredients other than corn and soybean meal, choose suitable enzyme preparations and their combinations—such as phytase, along with non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzymes like xylanase and β-glucanase, as well as cellulase.

　　(6) Use other additives judiciously. Mycotoxins such as vomitoxin in wheat and aflatoxin in peanut meal can harm animal health; these can be eliminated or mitigated by adding mycotoxin binders or degrading agents. Grains stored for extended periods may experience oxidation and structural changes, leading to reduced nutrient digestibility and negatively impacting their metabolic energy value and nutritional potency—this can be prevented by incorporating antioxidants. When the amount of yellow corn in broiler and layer diets is reduced, or when non-corn ingredients are used instead, approved natural or synthetically produced pigment feed additives can be added as needed to maintain optimal coloration.

　　II. Nutritional Properties of Alternative Ingredients

　　(1) Corn as a Substitute Ingredient

　　1. Wheat. While wheat has a higher crude protein content than corn, it also contains a significant amount of xylan. After appropriately supplementing with NSP enzymes, its metabolizable energy value becomes comparable to that of corn. When wheat replaces corn in diets, there’s a risk of linoleic acid deficiency, which can be addressed by adding fats or oils. Additionally, wheat is extremely low in bioavailable biotin, so supplemental biotin is necessary.

　　2. Sorghum. Sorghum has a higher crude protein content than corn but is low in threonine. Its major antinutritional factors include tannins, phytic acid, and sorghum zein. When using sorghum as a feed ingredient, it’s essential to supplement with a compound enzyme preparation—and avoid grinding it too finely. Typically, sorghum can replace corn at a ratio of 40% to 60%, while also requiring the addition of fats to ensure adequate energy levels.

　　3. Barley. Barley contains higher levels of crude protein, lysine, phenylalanine, and arginine compared to corn. Its primary antinutritional factor is beta-glucan, so when used in significant amounts, it’s necessary to supplement with appropriate enzyme preparations. Typically, the proportion of barley replacing corn should not exceed 80%, and it’s also essential to add fats to ensure adequate energy intake.

　　4. Paddy rice, brown rice, and broken rice. Paddy rice contains 20% husk by weight and has a crude fiber content of at least 8.5%. Its metabolizable energy value is lower than that of corn, while its crude protein content is around 7%. It can be included at a rate of 20% to 30% in the diets of growing-finishing pigs, broilers, and laying hens. Brown rice has slightly lower metabolizable energy compared to corn, with a crude protein content of approximately 8.8%. Notably, it contains higher levels of tryptophan than corn, while other essential amino acids are comparable to those found in corn. Broken rice, on the other hand, boasts similar metabolizable energy values to corn, with a nutrient profile that closely matches or slightly exceeds that of brown rice—particularly in terms of fiber content. Both brown rice and broken rice are rich in starch but low in fiber, making them highly digestible. As such, they can be incorporated into the diets of growing-finishing pigs, broilers, and laying hens at levels ranging from 20% to 40%.

　　5. Rice bran and rice bran meal. Whole-fat rice bran has an energy value comparable to corn, is rich in vitamins with high bioavailability, and offers excellent nutritional benefits. On the other hand, defatted rice bran and rice bran meal contain lower energy levels than corn but are higher in crude protein and most amino acids. Both rice bran and rice bran meal can be incorporated into growing and finishing pig diets at a rate of 10% to 20%. When using whole-fat rice bran, it’s important to prevent rancidity caused by its high fat content—ensure proper addition of preservatives and antioxidants—and avoid prolonged storage periods.

　　6. Cassava. Fresh cassava can be processed into cassava flour or cassava pellets after reducing its moisture content to below 14%. These products boast a starch content as high as 81%–88%, with crude fiber accounting for about 3.6% and crude protein around 2%–4%. Cassava is rich in potassium, iron, and zinc but lacks sulfur-containing amino acids. Its digestible energy value is approximately 90% that of corn. Cassava naturally contains antinutritional factors like cyanogenic glycosides, which can be effectively removed through processing, sun-drying, or ensiling. When using cassava as a partial replacement for corn, it’s important to supplement the diet with appropriate amounts of methionine, sodium thiosulfate, iodine, and vitamin B12. Typically, cassava flour or pellets should make up no more than 20% of the feed for growing and finishing pigs, and generally not exceed 10% in poultry diets.

　　(II) Soybean Meal as a Feed Ingredient Substitute

　　1. Rapeseed meal and cake: While rapeseed meal has a lower crude protein content compared to soybean meal, it boasts a higher methionine level but lower lysine and arginine content, resulting in poorer digestibility. To enhance the amino acid profile, it can be effectively combined with cottonseed meal. Typically, standard rapeseed meal can replace 40% to 50% of soybean meal, while "double-low" rapeseed meal—characterized by reduced levels of glucosinolates and erucic acid—can substitute up to 60% to 80% of soybean meal. Additionally, rapeseed meal has relatively low energy value, so when replacing soybean meal, it’s advisable to supplement with适量 of油脂 to ensure optimal nutritional balance.

　　2. Cottonseed meal. Conventional cottonseed meal has a lower protein content than soybean meal and contains anti-nutritional factors such as free gossypol and cyclopropene fatty acids. De-fatted cottonseed protein, however, boasts a crude protein level comparable to or slightly higher than soybean meal, with an arginine content that exceeds other common oilseed meals—but its lysine content remains significantly lower than that of soybean meal. Cottonseed meal can be effectively combined with other oilseed meals like rapeseed meal to enhance the overall amino acid profile. Typically, conventional cottonseed meal can replace 30% to 40% of soybean meal, while de-fatted cottonseed protein can substitute for up to 60% to 80% of it.

　　3. Peanut meal. Peanut meal has a crude protein content comparable to soybean meal and is particularly rich in arginine, though it lacks methionine, lysine, and tryptophan, resulting in low amino acid digestibility. Additionally, it contains low levels of calcium but high levels of phosphorus—much of which is phytate-bound. Peanut meal is also prone to contamination by aflatoxins, so care must be taken to prevent mold growth during storage and use. In pig feed, peanut meal is typically used at levels not exceeding 10%. For broiler chicken feed, it’s recommended to limit usage to no more than 5% during the early stages and up to 10% in later phases. In layer hen diets, peanut meal should generally make up no more than 8%.

　　4. Sunflower meal. Sunflower meal is rich in methionine but low in lysine and threonine, and its amino acid digestibility is generally lower than that of soybean meal. It’s best used in combination with soybean meal to improve amino acid balance. Unhulled sunflower meal has a high fiber content; therefore, it’s typically incorporated at no more than 5% in growing-finishing pigs and broiler diets, and up to 10% in laying hens’ and sows’ feed. After hulling, the fiber content of sunflower meal decreases, allowing for slightly higher inclusion rates—up to over 20% in growing-finishing pig diets.

　　5. Sesame meal. Sesame meal has a crude protein content and amino acid digestibility similar to soybean meal, with a high arginine content. It can be added at around 15% in pig and poultry feed formulations.

　　6. Corn Processing By-products. Among corn processing by-products, spray-dried corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal, and corn germ meal can partially replace soybean meal. Spray-dried corn gluten feed boasts a protein content of over 20%, but care must be taken during use to prevent contamination by mycotoxins. Corn gluten meal has low fiber content and can deliver crude protein levels exceeding 60%; however, more than half of its protein consists of zein, which is less digestible, and it also features an imbalanced amino acid profile—high in methionine and glutamic acid, yet deficient in lysine and tryptophan. Therefore, when replacing part of the soybean meal, it’s essential to supplement with essential amino acids. Corn germ meal, on the other hand, contains over 30% crude protein but is high in fiber and lacks lysine, tryptophan, and histidine. When using corn germ meal as a substitute for soybean meal, be sure to add the appropriate amino acids to compensate for these deficiencies. Typically, corn processing by-products should not exceed 15% of the total pig feed formula, with corn gluten meal preferably incorporated into pelleted feeds (not exceeding 5% in powdered formulations). Corn germ meal can be included up to 20% in sow diets. For broiler chicken feed, the recommended maximum usage is 15%, while for laying hens, it’s generally limited to 10%. In chicken diets where wheat or barley replaces corn, incorporating corn gluten meal can help boost the dietary level of zeaxanthin, thereby reducing the need for external pigment supplementation.

　　7. Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS). DDGS contains over 26% protein but is low in lysine and tryptophan, while its lutein content is high. Corn-based DDGS has a fat content exceeding 10%, with a favorable ratio of linoleic acid, effectively compensating for the dietary deficiency of linoleic acid that may result from using cereal-based ingredients. Typically, DDGS is used at no more than 10% in weanling pig diets, up to 20% in growing and finishing pig diets, and generally does not exceed 10% in broiler chicken feed or 15% in layer hen feed.

　　8. Palm Kernel Meal. Palm kernel meal has a lower crude protein content compared to soybean meal and is deficient in lysine, methionine, and tryptophan, while its fiber content is relatively high. However, when properly balanced against dietary amino acids, it can partially replace soybean meal. Typically, palm kernel meal is used at no more than 5% in pig diets, up to 6% in broiler chicken feeds, and up to 10% in layer hen diets.

　　9. Flaxseed meal and sesame meal. Both flaxseed meal and sesame meal have crude protein and amino acid levels similar to those of rapeseed meal, though they contain lower amounts of methionine and cysteine. Their crude fiber content is around 8%. Due to the presence of cyanogenic compounds, flaxseed meal and sesame meal should not be fed in excessive amounts—ideally, they can be included at 5% to 6% in pig and chicken diets.

　　10. Other plant-based protein ingredients. Depending on regional farming traditions and the characteristics of local feed resources, you can selectively incorporate small amounts of regionally specific plant-based protein sources as a partial substitute for soybean meal, such as alfalfa, silkworm mulberry, hybrid broussonetia papyrifera, and moringa. These plant stems and leaves should first be dried and ground into a fine grass powder before being added in appropriate quantities. Additionally, it’s important to supplement the diet with enzyme preparations like cellulase. In general, the inclusion level in pig and poultry diets should not exceed 5%.

　　3. Supporting Processing Measures

　　(1) Raw Material Pre-treatment: By employing methods such as bio-fermentation or in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis, low-value raw materials like oilseed meals and distillers' grains—common by-products—can be processed to degrade anti-nutritional factors, enrich beneficial microorganisms, and generate partial organic acids and enzymes. This pre-digestion of nutrients not only enhances the nutritional value of these ingredients but also allows for higher inclusion rates in animal feed formulations.

　　(II) Processing of Alternative Raw Materials: Raw materials can be appropriately processed using methods such as grinding, extrusion, and pelleting to enhance their nutritional value. During processing, it’s crucial to pay attention to factors like particle size, mixing uniformity, and feed hardness—otherwise, these issues could negatively impact animal feed intake and overall production performance. Wheat, barley, sorghum, and other grains tend to have high viscosity; therefore, they should be coarsely ground whenever possible. When incorporating these ingredients into chicken feed, avoid excessive grinding, as this may lead to a sticky mouthfeel that discourages consumption.

　　(3) Diet Processing and Production: Use specialized grinders, such as variable-frequency crushers, to ensure uniformly sized particles with minimal powder content. Steam treatment can also be employed to disinfect the feed.

　　IV. Other Important Notes

　　(1) Pay attention to electrolyte balance and use sodium sources appropriately. Soybean meal contains relatively high levels of potassium ions, so when selecting alternative ingredients, ensure you monitor the sodium, potassium, and chloride content to maintain proper electrolyte balance. Sodium sources can include baking soda, sodium sulfate, and others.

　　(II) The use of alternative ingredients must be limited. Corn and soybean meal are high-quality feed ingredients, while other raw materials, though capable of creating synergistic effects, often contain antinutritional factors or mycotoxins, necessitating the establishment of usage limits.

　　(3) Establish a transition period when changing feed, and monitor closely while making timely adjustments as needed. After introducing the new feed, carefully observe the animals' responses and any changes in their production performance. Since by-products from oilseed meals and grain processing—such as their smell, color, or potential presence of toxic or harmful substances—can affect palatability, adjustments should be made based on the specific ingredients used in production. Pay close attention to ensure good palatability and feeding effectiveness, and decide whether to implement appropriate measures accordingly.

　　V. Example of a Specific Technical Solution

　　(1) Example of a Corn and Soybean Meal Reduction and Substitution Plan for Pig Feed

　　1. Northeast China region: In piglets and growing-finishing pigs, up to 10–20% of corn in the diet can be replaced with rice grains, and 5–10% with rice bran, allowing for a minimum 15% reduction in corn usage. Additionally, soybean meal can be reduced by at least 10% by substituting it with 5% corn gluten meal, 5–15% DDGS, and synthetic amino acids.

　　2. North China region: In piglets and growing-finishing pigs, wheat can replace 10%–20% of the corn in their diets, while wheat bran or secondary flour can substitute for 5%–15% of the corn. This allows for a reduction of at least 15% in corn usage. Additionally, soybean meal can be entirely eliminated from growing-finishing pig feed by incorporating 5% corn gluten meal, 5%–15% DDGS, 5%–8% cottonseed meal, 5%–10% peanut meal, along with synthetic amino acids.

　　3. Central China region: In piglets and growing-finishing pigs, up to 10–20% of the diet can be replaced with brown rice or paddy rice, while wheat bran or secondary flour can account for 5–15%, and rice bran meal can make up 5–10%—all replacing corn entirely. Additionally, soybean meal in growing-finishing pig diets can be completely eliminated by incorporating 5–15% rapeseed meal, 5–15% DDGS, 5–8% cottonseed meal, along with synthetic amino acids.

　　4. South China region: In piglets and growing-finishing pigs, up to 10–15% of corn in the diet can be replaced with sorghum, 10–20% with cassava meal, 5–10% with rice bran, and 10–15% with barley—allowing corn usage to drop to zero. Additionally, soybean meal can be reduced by at least 5% by incorporating 5–15% vegetable meal and synthetic amino acids into the feed formulation.

　　5. Southwestern Region: In diets for piglets and growing-finishing pigs, up to 10–20% wheat, 10–20% brown rice or paddy rice, 5–15% wheat bran or secondary flour, and 5–10% rice bran meal can replace corn, allowing corn usage to be reduced to zero. Additionally, 5–8% cottonseed meal combined with synthetic amino acids can substitute soybean meal, cutting soybean meal usage by at least 5%.

　　6. Northwest Region: In piglets and growing-finishing pigs, up to 10–15% of corn in the diet can be replaced with sorghum, 10–15% with barley, and 10–20% with highland barley. Alternatively, corn can be completely eliminated from the diet. Additionally, 5–8% of cottonseed meal combined with synthetic amino acids can replace soybean meal, allowing soybean meal usage to be reduced by at least 5%.

　　(II) Example of a Corn and Soybean Meal Reduction and Substitution Plan for Broiler Feed

　　1. Wheat and brown rice can be used as a composite substitute for corn. In mid-to-late stage broiler diets, wheat and brown rice can completely replace corn in the feed formula, with wheat accounting for approximately 30%–40% of the total recipe and brown rice making up around 10%–15%. Fresh rice bran can also replace up to 20% of the corn in the diet. For starter broiler feeds, it’s recommended to still include about 15% corn. When increasing the amount of wheat used, ensure the wheat is ground to a slightly coarser particle size (0.7 mm–0.9 mm). Additionally, when formulating wheat-based pellets, there’s no need to add extra binders—this helps prevent the pellets from becoming too hard, which could reduce palatability and ultimately lower feed intake.

　　2. Replace corn with wheat, barley, and sorghum. In the early stage of broiler rearing (days 1–21), wheat, barley, and sorghum can be used together in the diet, with each ingredient recommended to replace no more than 30% of the corn. Alternatively, corn can be completely eliminated from the diet during this phase. For the later stage of broiler growth (days 22–42), wheat, barley, and sorghum can still be incorporated into the feed, but it’s advised that each ingredient replaces no more than 40% of the corn. Additionally, when wheat is used in combination with xylanase enzymes, it can fully substitute corn in the broiler diet.

　　3. Substitute soybean meal with alternative protein ingredients such as oilseed meals. In broiler diets, replacing 7% to 14% of soybean meal with dual-low rapeseed meal can reduce soybean meal usage by 6% to 10%. Meanwhile, substituting 2.5% to 10.5% of soybean meal with low-phytate cottonseed meal allows for a 2% to 10% reduction in soybean meal content. Replacing soybean meal with high-quality DDGS at levels of 4% to 12% can cut soybean meal usage by 2% to 6%. Additionally, incorporating 15% fresh peanut kernel meal into broiler diets can help lower soybean meal usage by approximately 15%. During the later growth phase, pea inclusion in broiler diets can reach up to 20%. Moreover, increasing the proportion of amylose to achieve an amylose-to-amylopectin ratio of 0.35 to 0.5 can effectively reduce the crude protein level in the diet by 2%.

　　4. Soybean Meal-Free Feed Formulation: In the early-stage broiler diet, combine corn gluten meal (up to 10%), rapeseed meal (up to 10%), cottonseed meal (up to 20%), and peanut meal (up to 10%) as substitutes for soybean meal, allowing soybean meal usage to be reduced to 0%. In the later-stage broiler diet, use a combination of corn gluten meal (up to 15%), rapeseed meal (up to 15%), cottonseed meal (up to 25%), and peanut meal (up to 10%), again enabling soybean meal to be eliminated entirely.

　　(III) Example of a Corn and Soybean Meal Reduction and Substitution Plan for Layer Feed

　　1. Replace corn with wheat and brown rice. In the growing and laying phases of layer chickens, wheat and brown rice can completely substitute corn in the diet—provided that fats are supplemented and enzyme preparations are added. It is recommended to use a combination of wheat and brown rice to replace 40% to 60% of the corn, reducing the corn content to below 20%. During the laying phase, when wheat and brown rice replace corn, it’s essential to add pigments to the feed. Meanwhile, in the chick-rearing phase, it’s advisable to maintain about 20% corn in the diet.

　　2. Wheat, barley, and sorghum can replace corn. In the starter diet for layer chicks, when wheat, barley, or sorghum are used in combination, the amount of corn can be reduced to around 15%. For the grower and lay phases, wheat, barley, and sorghum can each account for up to 40% of the diet—when combined with appropriate enzyme supplements—allowing corn to be completely eliminated. However, during the laying phase, it’s essential to add supplemental pigments to the feed.

　　3. Substitute soybean meal with alternative protein ingredients such as oilseed meals. During the chick rearing phase, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal can be used alone or in combination to replace soybean meal, with a recommended substitution rate not exceeding 5%, while ensuring that at least 15% of the diet still includes soybean meal. In the growing phase, a mix of cottonseed meal, rapeseed meal, sunflower meal, and rice bran meal can be incorporated to replace soybean meal, with each type of alternative meal accounting for approximately 5% to 8%, keeping the overall replacement level around 15%. Finally, during the laying phase, a combination of cottonseed meal, rapeseed meal (each at 8%–10%), and corn gluten meal (3%–5%) can be used to partially replace soybean meal, allowing the soybean meal content to drop below 8%.

　　4. Soybean Meal-Free Diet Formulation: In the growing and laying phases of layer hens, this diet combines corn gluten meal (up to 5%), rapeseed meal (up to 15%), cottonseed meal (up to 10%), peanut meal (up to 10%), sunflower meal (up to 8%), and palm kernel meal (up to 5%). As a result, soybean meal can be completely eliminated from the formula.

Source : Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; National Animal Nutrition Guidance Committee

Editor: Zhang Jing

Tags:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Around the Dragon Boat Festival, pork prices may see a price surge as pork consumption rises.

The voting and selection process for the Le Shou | Cultivating Genuine Knowledge essay contest has officially begun!!!

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Around the Dragon Boat Festival, pork prices may see a price surge as pork consumption rises.

The voting and selection process for the Le Shou | Cultivating Genuine Knowledge essay contest has officially begun!!!