Soybean cattle feed is a low-quality protein-based feed for cattle. It is best to avoid soybeans altogether if possible, and to provide another forage source to cattle that graze on the crop. Cattle may choose to eat the entire bean pod, leading to scours. But if you must let your cattle graze on soybeans, they must be provided with palatable hay.
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Raw whole soybeans inhibit digestion
Because of the high fat content in soybeans, feeding them in cattle feed should be limited to about 14 percent of dry matter. This will limit the impact of the oils on nitrogen utilization and fiber digestibility. The only exceptions to the low-fat requirement are the young calves and monogastrics. Although soybeans are a valuable source of protein, their high fat content may interfere with their ability to digest other feed ingredients.
However, roasted soybeans do not have the same digestive problems as raw soybeans. This is because they have a high level of trypsin inhibitor, which is an enzyme necessary for protein digestion. Therefore, feed containing a small percentage of roasted soybeans would not be harmful for cattle. Moreover, soybeans can enhance the overall quality of grain mixtures when fed to ruminants.
High fat content of raw beans can lead to scours
Soybean dietary fat content is too high for cattle. Typically, feedstuffs containing six to four percent dietary fat are safe for cattle. However, the high fat content in raw soybeans may interfere with the absorption of magnesium and calcium, and can cause scours in cattle. Whole soybeans should not be fed free choice to cattle. If soybeans are too high in fat, a farmer may consider blending them with clean soybeans.
Soybean meat is rich in sclerotinia, which can negatively impact the rumen bacteria. A diet high in raw soybeans should limit its fat content to 10 to 20 percent of dry matter. Soybean protein is highly ruminally degradable, but it may not offer the gains that distillers grains can provide. Adding too much fat to feedstuffs can decrease the fibre digestion in the rumen. Raw soybeans should not exceed four pounds per day.
Mycotoxin levels in soybeans
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi that can adversely affect livestock. They are primarily ingested but can also be introduced by contact or inhalation. The toxins’ biological effects include damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Mycotoxins belong to different chemical families and range in molecular weight from 200 to 500. Despite the wide range of effects they can have on animals, they are not harmful to humans.
The four mycotoxins found in wheat bran and soybean meal were remarkably low in comparison to corn and DDGS, which contained high concentrations of each contaminant. DDGS and corn were the only two feed components to have levels higher than the maximum permitted in China. DDGS contained the highest percentages of the four mycotoxins, with contaminating amounts far exceeding regulatory limits for AFB1, DON, and ZEA.
Price at which whole soybeans could be substituted at a breakeven level
Soybeans are a great source of protein, but they’re also a high-cost alternative. In order for soybeans to replace distillers grains as cattle feed, the price of DDG must increase by at least $195 per ton or more. If this is the case, it would take about seven days for soybeans to break even as feed.
Using a model of breakeven substitution, researchers calculated the cost of soybean meal as 48 percent soybean meal and 30 pounds corn with 3 pounds of fat. The equation used to estimate the breakeven level of soybean meal substitutes was derived by using the relationship between soybean meal and corn, which is assumed to cost $350 per ton. Other factors, such as processing costs, would have to be taken into account.
Safety of feeding raw soybeans to cattle
Soybeans do not require processing or heat treatment, but many nutritionists recommend caution when feeding raw soybeans to cattle. They may contain anti-nutritional factors that interfere with protein digestion in cattle without a rumen. Some cattle nutritionists recommend that calves not exceed three hundred pounds be fed a limited amount of soybeans a day. Besides, consuming raw soybeans may cause them to have a higher birth weight than those of cows. Soybeans also contain the enzyme urease, which converts urea to ammonia. Therefore, the amount of urea in the feed must be considered.
Another risk is the possibility of toxicity. Soybeans contain urea, a compound that is toxic to cattle if consumed in large amounts. Feeding cattle soybeans can increase ammonia levels in the feed, causing severe problems. Cattle graze on soybeans during the growing season, so feed your cattle a suitable forage source. In addition to forage, feed your cattle palatable hay instead of soybeans.
