Abstract
Previous reports indicate variable soybean quality parameters exported
from different geographic regions. This review compares soybean and
soybean co-products grown under diverse environmental conditions. While
numerous studies have been conducted on whole soybean and soybean meal
(SBM) composition by origin, similar analysis of soybean oil is lacking.
This review has two objectives: 1) summarize soybean and SBM quality by
origin using a meta-analysis approach, and 2) analyze collected crude
degummed soybean oil samples that originate from the US, Brazil and
Argentina for key quality attributes. Soybeans from Brazil have higher
levels of protein (P < 0.05) than US soybeans, but US soybeans
have lower heat damage (P < 0.05) and total damage (P
< 0.05) than soybeans from Brazil. US and Brazil SBM have
higher crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05) than SBM from Argentina.
At equal CP content, US SBM had less fiber (P < 0.0001), more
sucrose (P < 0.0001) and lysine (P < 0.0001) and
better protein quality than South American SBMs. Methionine, threonine,
and cysteine levels were similar in soybean protein from US and
Argentina and higher than that in soybean protein from Brazil. Crude
degummed soybean oil from Brazil had more (P < 0.05) free
fatty acids, neutral oil loss, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium than
crude degummed soybean oil from the US or Argentina. Our analysis
suggests that environmental conditions under which soybeans are grown,
stored, and handled can have a large impact on chemical composition and
nutrient quality of soybean meal and soybean oil.