Comparison of protein sources in animal feed

Formulating balanced and effective animal feed starts with choosing the right protein sources. Plant-based proteins play an essential role in the growth, development, and immunity of animals. In this article, we compare four commonly used protein sources in animal feed: soy, wheat, peas, and lupine. Each of these raw materials offers unique benefits in terms of nutritional value, digestibility, and sustainability.
At Van Tuijl Feed Enrichment, we supply high-quality, processed protein ingredients tailored to the specific needs of young animals, ruminants, and pets. Discover how these ingredients contribute to successful feeding strategies.

Soy in animal feed

Soy is one of the most widely used protein sources in animal feed worldwide, and for good reason. The high protein content – after grinding between 47.5 and 52.0% – and excellent digestibility make soy a powerful base for many feeds. Moreover, soy contains a complete amino acid profile, including lysine, methionine, and threonine. These are essential for growth and muscle development in young animals.
At Van Tuijl, we process soy through extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving, with particle sizes down to 50 microns. Thanks to these processing methods, uptake by the animal improves and feed formulators can dose accurately in premixes or complete feed.

Wheat in animal feed

Wheat is more than just a source of carbohydrates. Although its protein content is lower than soy’s, wheat still contains about 10–12% protein, including valuable gluten. Wheat also provides well-digestible energy and supports consistent feed intake due to its pleasant taste and texture.
Van Tuijl Feed Enrichment supplies customized wheat ingredients, such as cracked wheat or finely milled wheat flour. We also process wheat via extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving. Thanks to its wide availability in Europe, wheat fits excellently into locally oriented feeding strategies.

Peas in animal feed

Peas are increasingly used in animal feed, especially as the demand for European protein sources grows. With an average protein content of 23 to 25%, peas offer an excellent base for plant proteins. They also contain beneficial amino acids such as lysine, arginine, and threonine.
Due to their cultivability in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, peas contribute to a more sustainable feeding policy. Van Tuijl processes peas into meal or flour via extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving, tailored to the needs of animals such as piglets or calves. Peas enhance the nutritional value of feed without synthetic additives.

Lupine in animal feed

Lupine is emerging as a high-quality European protein source with impressive properties. With a protein content of up to 45% and a complete amino acid profile, lupine is an excellent alternative to soy. It is often used in feeds for broilers, piglets, ruminants, and even pets.
A major advantage of lupine is that it can be grown locally, reducing the ecological footprint. Van Tuijl processes lupine via extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving. In extruded form, the proteins are even more available to the animal, making this raw material widely usable in various feeds.

Overview: advantages of soy, wheat, peas and lupine

Soy offers 47.5–52.0% protein with a complete amino acid profile, including lysine, and is processed worldwide using extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving.

Wheat contains 10–12% protein with complementary amino acids, mainly sourced in Europe and processed similarly.

Peas provide 23–25% protein, rich in lysine and arginine, grown in Europe and processed through extrusion, fine grinding, and sieving.

Lupine delivers up to 45% protein with a complete amino acid profile, mainly from Europe and the Netherlands, and is processed using the same methods.

Your partner in protein-rich animal feed ingredients

The right combination of protein sources in animal feed largely determines the performance and health of the animal. Whether you choose soy for its high nutritional value, wheat for energy, peas for sustainability, or lupine for local circularity – at Van Tuijl Feed Enrichment we help you create the optimal mix.
With over 60 years of experience in processing plant-based feed materials and advanced techniques such as extrusion and micronization, we deliver tailor-made solutions for every type of animal feed.