As economic pressure and performance expectations continue to intensify across pork production systems, swine nutritionists are being challenged to move beyond least-cost formulation and toward strategies that impact profit/pig. That shift is the focus of a U.S. Soy-sponsored symposium at the 2026 American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Midwest Section Meeting titled The Science and Commercial Application of Soybean Meal in Today’s Pig Diets.
The symposium, scheduled for March 10 from 1 to 5 p.m., will bring together leading researchers and industry experts to present the latest science on soybean meal while placing an emphasis on commercial application and economic decision-making in modern pork production systems. This session is designed to bridge research and practice, addressing how soybean meal quality, energy valuation and strategic inclusion rates influence pig performance and profitability under real-world commercial conditions, the United Soybean Board says.
“This symposium brings forward new knowledge about the use of soybean meal in swine nutrition and health applications,” Nathan Augspurger, vice president for Animal Nutrition and Health at the United Soybean Board, said in a release. “It features an impressive list of speakers discussing the development of corn-soy diet for pigs, soybean meal quality, net energy values, practical applications and economics.”
Robert Easter, emeritus professor and former president of the University of Illinois, will open it up with a historical perspective on the development of the corn-soy diet for pigs. R. Dean Boyd will then outline the foundational pillars that define soybean meal’s value in swine nutrition and health, setting the stage for more applied discussions throughout the afternoon. Additional presentations by Aaron Gaines, Bart Borg, David Rosero and Hans Stein will build on those pillars ranging from a new net energy approach to the strategic application of soybean meal in the face of seasonal challenges for growing and finishing pigs in commercial environments. Sessions led by Gonzalo Mateos and Katelyn Gaffield will focus on soybean meal quality and assessment from both global and domestic perspectives.
A new economic decision-making tool
A major highlight of the symposium will be the introduction of a new web-based financial modeling tool developed by Iowa State University, led by David Rosero, in collaboration with the United Soybean Board and funded by the Soy Checkoff. The model integrates diet formulation, predicted growth performance and future pricing for feed ingredients and pigs to help users evaluate profitability scenarios.
“This financial modeling tool can help swine nutritionists go beyond the formulation desk – it’s an all-inclusive, integrated web-based digital model that estimates the financial value of nutritional strategies in order to maximize growth potential and profitability,” Rosero said in a release.
Examples shared during the symposium will include seasonal challenges such as summer heat stress, illustrating how nutrition strategies that incorporate soybean meal can help maintain carcass weight and economic returns.
“Beyond nutritionists, this tool is also important to decision-makers in the industry and can help move them from a least-cost diet formulation approach to a profit/pig decision, allowing owners and CFOs to see the bigger picture when it comes to profitability,” Borg added in the release.
All symposium attendees will receive immediate access to the tool, with plans for ongoing availability through Iowa State University resources and the U.S. Soy Center for Animal Nutrition and Health website. Augspurger will conclude the symposium with a discussion on future research opportunities for soybean meal in swine production, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A with all speakers.
Registration is now open for the 2026 ASAS Midwest Section Meeting, scheduled for March 9 – 11 in Omaha, Neb.
