Benson Hill, in collaboration with Perdue Farms, has successfully completed a feeding trial that demonstrates the economic and performance benefits of using their Ultra-High Protein, Low Oligosaccharide (UHP-LO) soybean meal in broiler chicken diets. The trial results revealed significant reductions in feed costs while maintaining performance levels, thanks to the high protein and enhanced metabolizable energy of the soybean meal derived from Benson Hill's proprietary soybean genetics.
Deanie Elsner, CEO of Benson Hill, highlighted the potential for this innovation to diversify soy options in animal feed. The company's soybeans, which are bred for specific quality traits, offer higher protein content and fewer anti-nutritional factors, promising competitive yields suitable for broadacre farming.
Randy Mitchell, Vice President of Nutrition and Research at Perdue, expressed optimism about the results and the prospect of incorporating this soybean meal into their commercial operations. Similarly, Dr. Roy Brister, a seasoned poultry industry advisor, noted the trial's implications for widespread adoption among poultry producers, citing the significant value of the Benson Hill UHP-LO soybeans.
Benson Hill is planning to expand its soybean variety offerings. By 2025, the company aims to double its seed portfolio, building on the successes of its third-generation UHP-LO soybeans that have achieved a 2% increase in protein content over previous varieties and narrowed the yield gap with traditional GMO soybeans to only 3-5 bushels per acre.
For the 2024 planting season, Benson Hill has broadened its commercially available soybean portfolio, introducing five new value-added varieties. These additions bring the total to more than 20 varieties across different maturity groups, providing U.S. soybean farmers with a wide range of options to meet specific agricultural needs.
