Anti-nutritional oligosaccharides
Approximately 40% of SBM is made up of crude fibre, and various polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Stachyoses and raffinoses are non starch polysaccharides (NSP) that has anti-nutritional properties and are present in soya beans. Stachyose [Gal α(1-6) -Gal α-(1- 6)- Gluα-1-β-2Fru] and raffinose [Gal α-(1-6)- Gluα-1-β-2Fru] represent a significant amount of potential dietary energy present in SBM. However, the α-galactoside family of oligosaccharides has been implicated in reducing SBM true metabolisable energy (TMEn), fibre digestion, and transit time in chickens. It has been well documented that the α–galactoside oligosaccharides are also a major cause of hydrogen gas production from SBM in poultry.