Comparison of quality characteristics of soybeans from Brazil, China, and the United States.

Both soybean composition and processing conditions impact the nutritional quality of soybean meal. The objective of this experiment was to compare nutrient compositions of soybeans grown under diverse environmental conditions in a variety of locations. Dry matter, organic matter, and ash concentrations differed in soybeans collected within the countries of Brazil, China, and the United States, although these differences were generally small or due to uniqueness of a particular source. Large differences in dry matter were detected among countries. Differences in crude protein, amino acid, and lipid concentrations of soybeans were detected both within and among countries. Soybeans from China had a greater crude protein concentration (42.14%) than those from Brazil (40.86%), whereas soybeans from China had a lower lipid concentration (17.25%) than those from either Brazil or the United States (18.66 and 18.70%, respectively). Environmental conditions under which soybeans are grown have a great impact on chemical composition and nutrient quality.