Processing of full-fat soybean and the use in diets for pigs: digestibility and metabolism

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the full-fat soybean (FFS) processed by vacuum (FFSvac) or by steam (FFSstm), by means of digestibility and metabolism of pigs. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with five treatments (control diet, diet with FFSvac, diet with FFSstm, 40% FFSvac + 60% control diet, 40% FFSstm + 60% control diet) and four replications each, being the animal the experimental unit. The digestibility coefficients of gross energy were 4% and 3% lower for the diets with replacement of soybean meal by FFSvac or FFSstm, respectively. The replacement of soybean meal by FFSvac or FFSstm did not influence the digestion and the metabolism of nitrogen of the pigs. For FFS, the content of digestible protein and energy were 10.4 and 4.0% higher with vacuum processing. The diet digestibility and energy metabolism are similar in pigs fed with diets containing FFSvac or FFSstm. For pigs fed with diets containing FFSvac or FFSstm, the diet digestibility and nitrogen metabolism are not different. The vacuum processing improves the digestible contents of protein and energy of full-fat soybean.