ASA Talking Points
October 21, 2002

· Half a pound of soybean meal is consumed to grow a pig or a chicken by one pound.

· For every pound of animal growth, swine and poultry producers utilize half a pound of soymeal.

· Swine and poultry feed accounts for 75 percent of all domestic U.S. soybean meal consumption.

· U.S. swine and poultry production consumes more than 1 billion bushels of U.S. soybeans, or about 37 percent of total U.S. soybean production. (Based on a 2.7 billion bushel crop.)

· Soybean meal (SBM) accounts for approximately 19.35 percent of swine feed

· Swine has a feed conversion ratio (CR) of approximately 2.8 to 1
(it takes 2.8 lbs. of feed to make 1 lb. of meat)

· 2.8 x .19.35 = 0.5418 (CR x % = SBM)

· Swine account for about 23 percent of all U.S. soybean meal consumption.

· The U.S. produces about 100 million hogs annually.

· Soybean meal (SBM) accounts for approximately 27.4 percent of poultry feed

· Poultry has a feed conversion ratio (CR) of approximately 1.8 to 1
(it takes 1.8 lbs. of feed to make 1 lb. of meat)

· 1.8 x 27.4 = 0.4932 (CR x % = SBM)

· Poultry account for about 52 percent (more than half) of all U.S. soybean meal consumption.

· In 2001, the U.S. produced nearly 8.4 million broilers and fed 250 million layer hens.

· A bushel of soybeans yields about 11 pounds of crude soy oil and 48 pounds of soybean meal.

· A metric ton of soybean meal is equivalent to about 46 bushels of soybeans.

· Total U.S. consumption of soybean meal in 2001 was 29.26 million metric tons, the equivalent of 1.346 billion bushels of soybeans. (Another 7 million metric tons of U.S. soymeal was exported.)

 

1.) Professor Robert D. Goodband, Extension Specialist, Swine, Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University. Swine calculations based on a total "average pig" feed ration in the United States of 775 pounds (consisting of 600 lbs. of corn, 150 lbs. of 48 percent soybean meal, and 25 pounds of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients). Feed conversion ratio based on the lifespan for an "average pig" finished weight of 276 pounds.

2.) Robert A. Swick, Ph.D. Poultry Nutritionist, American Soybean Association Singapore. Poultry calculations for grower diet consisting of 62.8 percent corn, 27.4 percent soybean meal, and 9.8 percent other ingredients in a broiler feeding study. Feed to gain ratios varied from 1.799 to 1.848. Special thanks also to Professor Craig N. Coon, Professor, Poultry Science Department, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Broiler feed average at 4.0 kilograms or 8.8 pounds over the course of three to five different diets (starter, grower, withdrawal 1 and withdrawal 2) to 42 days of age at 2.2 kilograms or 4.85 pounds. Soymeal is 1.03 kilograms or 2.29 pound per bird at 26 percent. Layers are also fed a ration that typically includes about 26 percent soybean meal or 100 grams/3.5 ounces per day.