-
Sourcing SBM
I keep wishing we could find clean dehulled SBM without the errant corn kernels, molasses chunks, food pellets and even cotton seeds that I find in SBM from a variety of mills. I screen the crap out, but it would be nice if we could find a clean source, even better if it’s one that folks could order a bag from via UPS (Chewy and Amazon and Petco shipped big bags of pet food all over the country so it should be feasible for SBM).
It seems there is a very small proportion of SBM that is considered food grade and most of it is considered feed grade and therefore not processed to human cleanliness/purity standards.
This has made me wonder why SBM isn’t used more in the human food chain? Anyone know? It’s kind of nutty and a good protein source and people eat lots of forms of soy, but they don’t seem to utilize SBM in their own food chain. There must be some reason for this….
-
8 Replies
-
This is a very good question. I have never personally had a problem with SBM here in south Florida. I will check my next bag (I just threw one away!) to see where it comes from. Also, I did a search years ago for organic non GMO SBM. I found one place but not sure they ship by the bag. I will try to find it again.
-
After buying from my local feed store for these last few years, their SBM started being milked where they wouldn’t clean the equipment well and we began sifting … yes sifting it by hand here at the barn. I complained to them about the “pellets of unknown origin” in the meal and showed them what we were finding. It didn’t improve. I finally went to another local feed store that primarily deals with farmers who raise pigs and cows and told them what I was looking for…clean SBM. They said “no Problem!”’ They bag theirs themselves straight from the mill and screen out anything that’s not supposed to be there. It’s the best looking SBM I’ve ever seen. Same price!
-
SBM (soybean meal) is an ingredient with quality control low on the list versus a big name grain dealer with fancy bags and a large PR department. However most clients get good quality SBM. Ours comes from Sandusky Ohio and is purchased from our local feed dealer (all farm animals). We received some moldy bags from them and they admitted that there was a leak in their roof that had spoiled the bags we had bought. Full replacement given.
The bottom line is because it is an ingredient you need to be ever vigilant for mold, rat feces and unknowns. There are plenty of SBM makers out there and you need to insist on finding those farmers who take pride in their work and feed dealers who care about horses.
-
I called and talked to one local mill (Orangeburg Milling Company in SC) about the problem and they promised to triple wash their machines before the run for our local feed store and even started providing non-GMO. The feed store was great about working with them. But bag after bag of the non GMO had a bunch of corn and other stuff in it (I’m sure those extras weren’t non GMO) and I finally quit feeding it as why should I be paying extra when there was so much crap in it. Often more than we saw in that mill’s regular version. ($25.50 a bag of non gmo vs $18.50 for regular)
For a while another feed store was selling an organic SBM (from Reedy Fork in NC: https://reedyforkfarm.com/) for $40 or $45 a bag but the protein content was a bit suspect and the feed store didn’t know if it was dehulled. I called the Reedy Fork and spent 1/2 an hour explaining the issue and the potential market if their stuff was dehulled. The mill didn’t know if it was dehulled and promised to look into it and call me back. They never did so I never fed the stuff and the local feed store is no longer carrying it.
I’m now usually feeding Central/Southern States or OMC regular dehulled and screening stuff out but I keep hoping for a clean source through a local feed store and an online source to point folks to. Which is why I was wondering if human food grade might be an option?
-
Kathy, this is such a good question. I pull stuff out of my SBM regularly and even had two bags with grain bugs in it. They replaced it, but I had to clean everything 😬. I have started doing research on how to source quality SBM and it’s frustrating that there is nothing truly geared towards horses. What I have found for human grade does not come in large enough bags and the cost is through the roof. My friend has a online horse store and she could get a 5lb bag for like $20, I pay that for a 50lb back through the feed store. I won’t give up though 😀
-
There are agricultural engineering articles out there working on the technical engineering issues farmers have. I have read several articles on SBM and the unique issues with moving it. It is a “sticky” product that requires steeper angles for the augers (gravity assistance) plus the addition of “flow agents” to prevent clumping and jamming. I suspect that these additional handling issues cost money and that some manufacturers cut corners. I have no proof but I would guess that having other “things” in the meal helps them to move it through existing structures. They can then sell it at a lower cost to dealers who then sell it to horse owners at the same price to maximize their profit per bag.
What I am saying is that for some of us, you may need to put your money behind your wants. Tell the dealer you are willing to pay a dollar more for a clean bag of “horse grade” SBM. While this doesn’t seem like a lot of money, in agriculture, pennies are the difference. If they can profit the same or a bit more for better quality SBM, you still come out ahead with improved health for your horses. If you buy 50 bags a year, this is $50 more per year you spend for some peace of mind.
I will ask my wife to get the address off of the SBM bag we get. You could contact them to see if they can deliver to your area / feed store. If we ALL support a good manufacturer, they will continue to make this at the quality we are looking for and will force the others either out of business or to improve their standards.
These are the 2 options I see that we have to get better quality SBM. If you are getting good quality SBM then please add the address of the manufacturer to this list. I know we are a small group but maybe when you contact them you can tell them about this movement and one may see an opportunity here.
-
This is the tag from my feed store’s SBM
-
Thanks @KayTeeDid – Store your SBM in steel or heavy plastic pails to prevent rodents getting in. You also don’t want it in humidity. SBM will spoil over time and should be thrown out (not fed) if it is close to a year old or is spoiled in any way.
-
Log in to reply.