Uniform nutrient delivery drives feed efficiency, carcass consistency and stronger returns
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15 december 2025 | 7 minute read
When pigs face respiratory disease or summer heat, producers know whatS coming: uneven growth, reduced feed intake and the logistical headaches of variable market weights. Behind those challenges lies a question of consistency, not just in management, but in feed formulation itself.
For Dr. tom D’Alfonso,Worldwide Director of Animal Nutrition at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the solution starts in an unexpected place – a U.S. soybean field.
“It is the sustainable farming practices of the U.S. Soy farmer that leads to the consistency and reliability that we’re talking about,” he said.
From soil stewardship to feed mill performance, D’alfonso believes the predictability of U.S. soybean meal plays a direct role in protecting swine performance when conditions turn against the herd.
Respiratory disease and heat stress are among the most common causes of performance losses in modern production systems. Each stress event disrupts feed intake and growth rate, but the combination can be even more damaging.
“In cold weather, there’s more incidence of respiratory disease,” D’Alfonso explained. “But there are a number of functional compounds in soybean meal that help to alleviate the symptoms of respiratory disease at the time it happens.”
Later, when the temperature rises, the same pigs that struggled through winter respiratory issues are frequently enough more vulnerable to heat stress. Producers try to help them recover feed intake by increasing dietary protein or adding synthetic amino acids, but those interventions frequently enough miss the mark.
“They’ll supplement with synthetic amino acids. They’ll boost the protein levels,” he said. “And what the industry has found is that really doesn’t work. Getting the soybean meal inclusion rate up was what alleviate
U.S. Soy: Consistency Drives Swine Diet Performance
Recent analyses underscore how U.S. Soy’s consistency pays off when inclusion levels are higher. Because soybean meal is the foundational protein in most swine diets, its uniform nutrient profile reduces overall diet variability.
The Value of Consistency in Swine Nutrition
“When you have a key ingredient in a diet like soybean meal that is of high quality, like that made from U.S. soybeans, then you have less variability of the entire diet,” says Dr. D’Alfonso.”And if you have a higher inclusion rate of a low-variance ingredient, you’re going to lower the variance of the entire diet.”
This consistency is crucial for optimal swine performance. A stable nutrient profile allows for predictable growth rates, improved feed conversion ratios, and enhanced overall health.
Why Alternatives Can Increase Variability
By contrast, stacking multiple alternative proteins, additives, or digestive enhancers can actually introduce inconsistency. Relying on a complex mix of ingredients makes it harder to control the nutritional profile of the diet.
“Having many different sources of protein, amino acids and supplements and digestive enhancers is just really adding variance to the picture,” Dr. D’alfonso explained.
Functional Compounds and Animal Resilience
The research also points to the importance of soybean meal’s functional compounds, including isoflavones, saponins, and other bioactive components, that contribute to animal resilience. these compounds can support gut health, immune function, and overall well-being.
To capture these benefits, swine diets need sufficient soybean meal inclusion.Researchers are finding that a specific range is optimal.
“We’re hoping to see 20% to 30% soybean meal in diets as a common range to see these benefits,” Dr. D’Alfonso said.
The Economic Equation
Feed costs account for roughly two-thirds of the cost of producing pork, so any gain in efficiency or performance has an immediate impact on profitability. Dr. D’Alfonso said economic models consistently show a return on investment when utilizing higher levels of consistent, high-quality U.S. soybean meal.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. soybean meal provides a consistent nutrient profile, reducing diet variability.
- Higher inclusion rates of U.S. soybean meal can lower the overall variance of a swine diet.
- Alternative proteins and additives can introduce inconsistency.
- Soybean meal’s functional compounds contribute to animal resilience.
- Optimal inclusion rates of 20-30% soybean meal can maximize benefits.
- Improved feed efficiency translates to increased profitability for pork producers.