Soybeans are commonly included in animal diets, often in the form of soybean meal, as a source of energy and high-quality protein. Aside from these macronutrient fractions, soy also includes many minor components that have the potential to both positively and negatively impact the growth and health of nonruminant animal species used in production agriculture. The purpose of this comprehensive review was to summarize research on the effects of soy bioactive components on performance and immune-related outcomes in pigs and broiler chickens as soybean-derived products are used heavily in diets fed to these species. After screening over 7,600 publications, a total of 151 met the inclusion criteria and were thus included in this review. Most research focused on ways to eliminate deleterious bioactive components that can affect the digestibility of nutrients and intestinal health of animals. Most publications evaluated the effect of bioactive components on performance, the microbiome, or intestinal characteristics, while few studied changes in animal behavior or brain outcomes. Very few publications that investigated soy saponins, peptides, or phytosterols as feed additives met the criteria for inclusion. Future studies should be considered to fill the gaps highlighted in this review to improve the understanding of how soy products can influence animal health and productivity.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.