EP200: Fermented soy protein for healthier, fast-growing broilers

EP200 is a fermented soy protein designed to support early gut development, nutrient utilisation and productivity in broiler production.

WHY USE FERMENTED SOY PROTEIN FOR BROILERS?

Early-life gut development is key to successful broiler production. And proper protein utilisation is the lever – often the most expensive one if not managed right.

Soybean meal (SBM), soy protein concentrate (SPC) and other soy proteins are commonly used in chick starter feed. Soy is a rich source of essential amino acids that support growth. But not all soy performs the same in the first days of life, because the processing method makes a major difference.

Fermented soy protein, such as EP200, modifies the functional properties of soybean meal in feed, particularly regarding antinutritional factors (ANFs) and early-life utilisation.

Fermentation:

Lowers ANFs to safe levels
Improves early digestibility and nutrient absorption
Supports a healthy gut morphology and a balanced microbiome
Produces 7% lactic acid

Prefer the specifications? Head straight to the EP200 Datasheet

ANTINUTRIENTS IN BROILER STARTER FEED

Antinutritional factors (ANFs) can impair growth and gut function. Heat treatment reduces some ANFs, but not all.

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), such as raffinose, stachyose, and verbascose, are commonly described as heat-stable and indigestible in poultry nutrition (Loeffler, 2012). In practice, indigestible carbohydrates can affect passage rate and droppings consistency in chicks, as well as induce gut infections.

During fermentation, GOS levels of stachyose, raffinose and verbascose are reduced from 5-10% in soybean meal (SBM) to less than 0.6% in EP200 (Steins EuroFins Laboratory, 2025). The GOS are partly converted into health-promoting organic acids – lactic acid being the main component.

Get more info on fermentation and its influence on ANFs in soybean meal.

Improving the digestibility of soybean meal for starter feed

After fermentation, soybean meal can be utilised better by chicks.

The fermentation process breaks down protein into smaller peptides, which are more easily absorbed by an immature gut. The result is more protein and lower urea levels in blood serum, indicating that protein is utilised more efficiently and that less strain is placed on the chicks’ kidneys. A reduction in urea levels means less nitrogen excretion in the droppings (Sembratowicz et al., 2020).

Fermentation releases more digestible minerals, which can be traced in blood plasma by significant increases in zinc and copper levels (Sembratowicz et al., 2020).

In practical terms, more nutrients are utilised by the broiler and less end up as waste.

IS YOUR STARTER DIET’S ABC WORKING AGAINST PROTEIN UTILISATION?

Young chicks have limited hydrochloric acid (HCl) secretion during the first weeks of life, which limits protein digestion.

To support early growth, EP200 contains lactic acid, a natural byproduct of fermentation. Lactic acid helps lower the pH and activate pepsin, allowing chicks to utilise protein early on.

Learn more about the acid-binding capacity (ABC) of soy sources in broiler feed.

IMPROVING BROILER GUT HEALTH WITH FERMENTATION

EP200 provides a dual-action approach to improve gut resilience and prevent pathogenic bacteria from proliferating.

Gut development: The inclusion of 6% EP200 in broiler feed increases villus length and crypt depth in the broiler gut (Chachaj et al., 2019). A larger absorption surface allows the broiler to utilise feed more efficiently, which converts into growth.

Another testament is a significant rise in plasma protein levels, signifying improved amino acid utilisation, and markers associated with intestinal and immune health when replacing soybean meal with 3% or 6% EP200 (Sembratowicz et al., 2020).

EP200 helps fight oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant potential and glutathione levels compared to soybean meal (Sembratowicz et al., 2020).

Bacterial balance in chicks: When beneficial bacteria dominate the gut community, pathogens struggle to proliferate. Chahaj et al. (2019) found that feeding fermented protein significantly reduced pathogen levels, including coliforms and fungi.

REPLACING SOYBEAN MEAL WITH FERMENTED SOY PROTEIN FOR BROILERS

Published research shows improved productivity when soybean meal (SBM) is replaced with 6% EP200 (Chachaj et al., 2019).

In the trial, replacing SBM with EP200 resulted in:

increased body weight at day 14, 35 and 40
a higher dressing percentage (87%)
lower mortality
an extra margin of € 0.3 per broiler

Conclusion: Replacing SBM with 6% EP200 can improve key performance outcomes and profitability in broiler production (Chachaj et al., 2019).

REPLACING SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE WITH FERMENTED SOY PROTEIN FOR BROILERS

Already using soy protein concentrate (SPC) in your broiler starter? A commercial feeding trial shows you can replace it with EP200 without compromising performance.

In the trial, soy protein concentrate (56% SPC) in the starter diet was replaced with 5% EP200. The results showed no significant differences between the control and EP200 groups in: