Broiler Nutrition Benson Hill Completes Second Trial, Showcasing UHP-LO Soybean Meal Benefits
Benson Hill, Inc. (Nasdaq: BHIL), a seed innovation company dedicated to advancing agricultural sustainability and efficiency, has announced the successful completion of a second commercial feeding trial in collaboration with a major poultry integrator. This study further validates the nutritional and economic advantages of incorporating soybean meal derived from Benson Hill’s Ultra-High Protein, Low Oligosaccharide (UHP-LO) soybeans into poultry diets.
The latest findings confirm that using UHP-LO soybean meal (SBM) in commercial broiler diets significantly enhances feed conversion rates while leading to heavier broilers at processing. This outcome can be attributed to the superior protein content and metabolizable energy inherent in Benson Hill’s proprietary soybean genetics. These results reinforce the conclusions of the company’s initial broiler feeding study, which was released in May 2024, and further underscore the potential for transforming poultry nutrition through advanced plant breeding and genetic optimization.
Key Findings from the Commercial Feeding TrialThe feeding trial, conducted over six weeks, compared broilers that were fed a diet containing Benson Hill’s UHP-LO SBM against a control group receiving standard commodity soybean meal. The study revealed significant performance improvements in birds consuming the high-protein specialty soybean meal. Specifically, broilers in the UHP-LO SBM group exhibited a 5.4% increase in body weight at processing compared to those fed with commodity SBM.
Additionally, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved by 3.2%, highlighting the more efficient utilization of nutrients from the specialized soybean meal.
These results demonstrate that replacing commodity soybean meal with Benson Hill’s UHP-LO SBM provides poultry producers with the flexibility to optimize feeding strategies. Whether the goal is maximizing growth performance or reducing feed costs, UHP-LO soybean meal presents an attractive solution.
Studies have suggested that poultry producers could achieve cost advantages of up to 5% in feed formulation while simultaneously realizing bird performance improvements of up to 5.4%.
Impact on the Poultry Industry and Broader Value ChainThe economic implications of these findings are substantial. Poultry producers continuously seek ways to enhance efficiency and improve profitability, and feed costs represent a significant portion of production expenses.
By utilizing a more nutrient-dense and energy-efficient soybean meal, producers can achieve superior production outcomes without increasing feed intake volumes.
Deanie Elsner, Chief Executive Officer of Benson Hill, emphasized the transformative potential of this innovation. “This latest feeding trial showcases the profound impact of switching from commodity soybean meal to a high-protein, nutritious option that is truly Made from Better™,” said Elsner. “These study results not only reaffirm the value of our UHP-LO soybean meal for poultry producers seeking specific outcomes like feed efficiency, but they are also supported by more than two decades of soybean breeding and our technology core. We estimate that choosing specialty soy from Benson Hill can generate approximately $2.2 billion of value annually for the broiler industry.”
These findings align with growing industry interest in optimizing poultry feed for enhanced performance while minimizing waste. With an increased focus on sustainability, efficient feed conversion plays a critical role in reducing resource consumption, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving overall production economics.
The Future of Benson Hill’s UHP-LO Soybean PortfolioFollowing the success of these feeding trials, Benson Hill is committed to broadening its impact within the feed industry. The company plans to expand its soybean portfolio to more than 35 varieties for the 2025 crop year, ensuring continued innovation in animal nutrition. Non-GMO UHP-LO soybean varieties specifically developed for animal feed applications have demonstrated strong yield performance, maintaining competitiveness with elite commercial soybean varieties.
Additionally, Benson Hill is working toward the introduction of herbicide-tolerant varieties of UHP-LO soybeans, which are expected to be available for the 2026 growing season.
This development will provide further benefits to soybean growers by enhancing weed control options and improving overall crop management.
The Growing Market for High-Performance Feed IngredientsThe adoption of enhanced soybean meal solutions like UHP-LO aligns with broader trends in the agricultural and animal nutrition sectors. As consumer demand for high-quality poultry products increases, producers are under greater pressure to optimize efficiency while maintaining animal health and welfare. The ability to use a feed ingredient that delivers superior protein content, reduces anti-nutritional factors, and improves energy availability offers significant advantages.
Beyond broiler production, the benefits of Benson Hill’s soybean innovation could extend to other livestock and aquaculture sectors. Given that feed efficiency is a key determinant of profitability across various animal agriculture industries, the potential for high-protein, low-oligosaccharide soybeans to enhance nutrition is substantial.
