The simple-to-use test kit employs a customized assay design that allows users to conveniently and accurately assess their soybean meal samples for the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors. This puts the power of quality assurance into the hands of anyone involved in producing, processing or using soybean meal for livestock feed, helping to support best quality and results across the value chain.

2. Supports industry needs

In recent years there has been a major trend toward diversification and expansion in the amount of micro-processing activity for soy taking place across the industry, including activity aimed at smaller-scale niche opportunities. As a result, there has been a rising need for practical, accurate, cost-effective, on-site testing options that anyone can use to support quality assurance in this new environment. This is what FeedCheck Soy is designed to provide.

3. Robust and dependable

The tool, available direct from CBS Inc., is robust and dependable, says Dr. Anangelina Archile, CBS Inc. Technical Services Manager. It works by using a reaction reagent uniquely tailored to indicate the presence of residual urease, which is an indicator of the presence of trypsin inhibitors. The reagent indicates areas of high urease activity by changing those areas of the sample to a red-wine color. The test kit comes with an easy-to-follow instruction booklet that includes a reference guide for interpreting the results. Based on the degree and amount of colorization, users can clearly see whether levels of anti-nutritional factors are within optimal or low risk range, or whether there are issues related to under- or over-heating during processing.

“FeedCheck Soy allows you to quickly, clearly and reliably assess the quality of feed ingredient you are dealing with, so you can easily make decisions and adjustments,” says Archile. “It provides peace of mind and supports quality assurance at all levels. For example, if you are a farming operation processing soybean meal yourself of supplying to a micro-processor to be returned for your own use, you can use this option to check quality and related equipment calibration.” The tool has a strong potential fit for a full range of types and scales of soy micro-processing operations, which can now test samples on site, saving substantial time, effort and cost compared to sending samples off site for testing.

4. Protecting value for feed and livestock industries

Ultimately, anyone involved in producing, processing or using soybean meal can benefit from the introduction of convenient, practical and economical quality testing options. Sub-optimal soybean meal processing represents a major, yet often overlooked, loss of value across soy, feed and livestock industries. Even if the processing level is off only marginally the soybean meal quality can be substantially compromised. This means lower feed quality and less nutritional value for livestock, which undermines efficiency, performance and profitability. Anti-nutritional factors can also reduce the effectiveness of feed additives.

Temperature during processing is a critical factor. It needs to be high enough to minimize anti-nutritional factors without being so high that it burns and damages desirable soy protein.

5. Maximizing nutrition and energy capture

"In the past with large processors dominating soybean meal processing activity, quality assurance was arguably less of an issue,” says Rob Patterson, CBS Inc. technical director. “The reality is that the industry has continued to evolve and diversify. Now the quality assurance tools available need to evolve and diversify along with it. Options such as FeedCheck Soy can help dial in quality assurance in situations where soybean meal quality has become more vulnerable.”

An instructional video for FeedCheck Soy is available. Visit www.canadianbio.com for more information including how to order a FeedCheck Soy test kit.