Total versus standardised ileal digestible
Total amino acids are what the laboratory finds; standardised ileal digestible (SID) amino acids are what the animal absorbs. Two cargoes with identical total lysine can differ materially in SID lysine after over-toasting, and only the SID value predicts performance.
Heat damage indicators
Reactive (available) lysine, KOH protein solubility, protein dispersibility index and urease activity are practical proxies for processing intensity. Specifying at least one of them protects against under- and over-processing, which crude protein cannot detect.
Typical industrial reference values
| Soybean meal lysine | 2.7–2.9% | Reference plant protein |
| Fish meal lysine | 4.5–5.2% | |
| Rapeseed meal lysine | 1.8–2.1% | |
| SID lysine (poultry, SBM) | ≈ 89–91% | Falls with heat damage |
Indicative industry reference values for orientation only — always contract against the delivered lot.
What to verify
- —Digestible, not only total, amino-acid values with the species basis stated
- —A heat-damage proxy appropriate to the ingredient
- —Consistency of the amino-acid to crude-protein ratio across shipments
Typical risks
- —Silent loss of digestible lysine through over-processing
- —Under-processing leaving anti-nutritional factors active
- —Formulation shortfalls that only appear as performance loss weeks later
Common mistakes
- —Buying protein meals on crude protein alone
- —Applying one origin's SID coefficients to a different process route
Frequently asked questions
Which amino acid should be specified first?
Lysine for most monogastric protein sources, because it is usually first limiting and the most sensitive to heat damage. Methionine, threonine and tryptophan follow depending on species and diet stage.
Where this matters most
Related topics
Crude protein is nitrogen content multiplied by a conversion factor (usually 6.25); it estimates total protein but says nothing about amino-acid quality or digestibility.
Digestibility expresses the proportion of a nutrient the animal can actually absorb; it converts an analytical composition into a nutritional value.
A certificate of analysis is a lot-specific record of tested parameters, methods and results; a generic or typical-values sheet is a marketing document, not a certificate.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQFor commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed specified on amino acid profile for a commercial farm
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed specified on amino acid profile and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, verified suppliers who can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Technical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
Educational reference. FeedMatch Group does not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers.
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