Short answer: soybean meal is sold mainly by its protein level, which depends on whether the seed was dehulled and how the oil was extracted. Specify the protein, fat, fibre and moisture limits you need, and ask how the meal was toasted, because toasting is what makes the protein digestible.
1. What soybean meal is
Soybean meal is the by-product left after oil is extracted from soybeans. Feedipedia describes it as the most important protein source used to feed farm animals, and cites Oil World (2015) for the figure that it makes up about two-thirds of the world output of protein feedstuffs, including all other major oil meals and fish meal. Its feeding value is described as unsurpassed among plant proteins, and it is the standard against which other protein sources are compared.
Our soybean meal page describes a dehulled, solvent-extracted meal, rich in lysine, tryptophan and threonine, used in poultry, swine and dairy diets.
2. Protein levels and types
Soybean meal is usually classified for marketing by its crude protein content (Feedipedia):
- High-protein meal comes from dehulled seed and contains 47–49% protein and about 3% crude fibre (as fed).
- Meal that includes some or all of the hulls contains less than 47% protein and more than 6% crude fibre.
Hulls are about 8% of the seed and are mainly fibre, so removing them concentrates the protein. Our specification is 46.5–47.5% crude protein for the dehulled meal grade, with crude fibre max 3.5–4.5%. If your formulation needs a protein level above that, tell us and we will confirm what is available.
3. How it is made
The steps on our page match the common process described by Feedipedia:
- Dehulling removes the outer seed coat and concentrates the protein; it also removes some anti-nutritional factors.
- Conditioning and flaking soften the seed and open the oil cells so that the oil can be extracted.
- Solvent extraction uses a solvent, usually hexane, percolated through a bed of flakes. Feedipedia says this is the most efficient method, and that in the USA virtually all soybeans are solvent-extracted.
- Desolventising and toasting dry the spent flakes to remove solvent and then toast them.
4. Why toasting matters
Raw soybeans contain anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors. Feedipedia states that toasting after desolventising increases the digestibility of soybean meal because it removes urease and trypsin inhibitors. Too little heat can leave them in the meal. That is why our specification lists urease activity (0.05–0.20 pH rise) as a toasting control index, and why our process description refers to preserving amino acid bioavailability.
When you buy, ask for the urease result with the lot analysis.
5. Our specification at a glance
From our soybean meal page. Typical ranges; actual shipment lot analysis is issued on contract confirmation.
| Parameter | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Crude protein | 46.5% – 47.5% (dehulled meal grade) |
| Crude fat | Max 1.5% – 2.0% |
| Crude fibre | Max 3.5% – 4.5% |
| Moisture | Max 12.0% |
| Urease activity | 0.05 – 0.20 pH rise |
6. Solvent-extracted versus expeller meal
Feedipedia describes three main ways of extracting the oil:
- Solvent extraction: the most common. Oil left in the meal is typically below 2% (about 1.5%).
- Mechanical (expeller or screw press): yields less oil and leaves more than 5% residual oil, with lower protein. Feedipedia notes these meals have higher energy, are more palatable and have greater rumen by-pass value, so they are used in some dairy rations. Meal pressed without enough heat can retain anti-nutritional factors.
- Extruding then expelling: a variation of mechanical extraction that can remove anti-nutritional factors about as well as conventional solvent extraction.
Our meal is the solvent-extracted, low-fat type (crude fat max 1.5–2.0%). If you want an expeller meal, tell us and we will check availability.
7. Questions to ask before you choose
- What protein level does your formulation need? Compare it with the 46.5–47.5% specification.
- Do you want a solvent-extracted or an expeller meal?
- What are your limits for fat, fibre and moisture?
- Do you need the urease result? Ask for it with the lot analysis.
- What volume, packaging and port? We offer 50 kg woven bags, 1,000 kg bulk big bags, or bulk vessel shipments.
8. What to send for a quotation
- Target protein level and any fat, fibre and moisture limits
- Estimated monthly quantity
- Packaging preference and destination port
- Any lot analysis you need, such as urease
9. Frequently asked questions
What protein level is your soybean meal?
46.5–47.5% crude protein for the dehulled meal grade, a typical range confirmed per lot.
Why is dehulled meal higher in protein?
Hulls are mostly fibre. Removing them raises the share of protein and lowers fibre.
What is urease activity and why is it listed?
Urease is used as an index of how well the meal was toasted. Toasting removes urease and trypsin inhibitors, which improves digestibility.
How is it packed and stored?
50 kg woven bags, bulk big bags (1,000 kg), or bulk vessel shipments. Store in dry, clean, well-ventilated flat stores or silos, away from moisture and humidity to prevent caking.
Will I receive a certificate of analysis?
Lot-specific certificates of analysis are issued prior to dispatch.
How do I request a price?
Use the quotation form, email sumanthans@ssgcommodities.com, or message us on WhatsApp at +1-613-324-3821.
Ready to request a quotation?
Tell us the protein level, monthly quantity and destination port.
Sources
- Feedipedia, Soybean meal datasheet: feedipedia.org/node/674. Read October 2026. Production and market figures are as reported there (citing Oil World, 2015).