Frequently Asked Questions

Samples can be tested for Aflatoxins at the Toxicology Laboratory at the college of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 6023 University of Missouri, Columbia, 65205

For producers that feel they have a concern an additive, hydrated aluminum silicate can be mixed with the feed in question to tie up the aflatoxin. Be sure to consult with a nutritionist and/or veterinarian.

In a 3 year study, Montana researchers fed added dietary fat in the form of safflower seeds, soybeans, or sunflower seeds (4.2, 3.3, or 4.5% fat, respectively). Oil seeds were processed through a roller mill to lightly crack the hulls but without oil loss. These diets, in addition to control diet (2.0% fat), were fed for 68 days prior to calving. Fat supplementation improved cow pregnancy rate (average of 91.7% vs. 79.0% for controls) and fall calf weights ( average of 432 Lb. vs. 402 Lb. for controls) . The authors concluded that fat supplementation of the gestation diet of first calf heifers could have a positive effect on the subsequent reproductive rate and calf weaning weight. Similar results have been reported by Texas and New Mexico researchers (Bellows, et al. 1999. J. Anim. Sci. 77 [Suppl. 1]: 236).

For the most efficient use of grain supplements with pasture, the stocking rate of the cattle must be balanced with the pasture. Cattle eat less pasture and the stocking rate should be increased when grain supplements are fed. In Oklahoma studies (1979), grain was used very inefficiently when there was a surplus of grass for the cattle compared to a scarcity of grass or balancing the grass with the cattle. If grass was in surplus, it took 15-30 pounds of grain for each pound of gain increase but only 8-10 pounds if grass and cattle were balanced. The carrying capacity of the pasture increased by 25-30 percent when grain was fed at 1% of body weight (5-7 lb/hd/day).

Raun, A.P. (1979) of Elanco Products Company noted in a research summary of grain supplements for stockers on forage that cattle average 0.61 lb. less forage dry matter intake for each pound of supplement consumed daily. He reported the stocking rate to fully utilize the pasture increased 4.2% for each pound of supplement fed per head daily in a summary of 8 trials. These results conform closely to the Oklahoma figures.

Beef cows fed a ration containing whole soybeans had more calves than cows fed a traditional supplement in a study at the University of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center (FSRC).

The first year study showed a 15 percent increase in conception rate, according to Chris Zumbrunnen, Regional Livestock Specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Cows were fed 3.5 pounds of whole beans for 50 days prior to breeding. A control group received an equal ration of corn gluten feed and soybean meal.

According to researchers the cows fed the bin run soybeans "went right to the bunk and started eating".

Due to the low price of soybeans there have been several inquiries about feeding whole soybeans to beef cattle. The following information may help in answering some of those questions.

The protein in raw soybeans appears to be utilized as efficiently as the protein in solvent soybean meal. No nutritional advantage for cooking, roasting, or extruding soybeans has been shown when fed to beef cattle. The high fat content gives whole soybeans a higher energy value than corn. However, this high fat content does limit the amount of whole soybeans that can be used to advantage in beef rations. Also, the fat in ground soybeans will become rancid after a few days of storage in hot weather. Cooking or other high heat treatment of soybeans will inactivate the enzymes that cause the fat to become rancid. Being able to store ground soybeans for a longer time when heat treated is probably the main advantage for this process for soybeans used in beef cattle rations.

At low protein levels, ground whole soybeans replaced soybean meal without any significant reduction in performance. However, at the higher protein intake, dietary protein was not an apparent limiting factor and performance of calves consuming whole soybeans decreased compared to those fed soybean meal. Feed intake was slightly less for the high whole soybeans.

Steer calves fed rations with 10% cottonseed meal or 10% raw soybeans had comparable rates and efficiencies of gain in a Louisiana study. When the level of raw soybeans was increased to 20 to 30 % of the diets, there was a progressive decline in performance. The raw soybeans at these higher levels created a laxative effect and the steers had a tendency to go "on and off feed". Thus, it appeared ground, raw soybeans should make up no more of an all-concentrate ration than was necessary to supply the needed protein.

Raw soybeans also contain an enzyme "urease" which enhances the breakdown of urea to ammonia. This is the reason for the warning against using raw soybeans in rations that contain urea. If soybeans are used for protein, however, no additional protein value from urea should be needed in the ration.

Chemical treatment or roasting of ground soybeans improved the performance of calves in a Georgia study. This chemical or heat treatment was thought to increase the "by-pass" protein in the soybeans.

Raw soybeans can be utilized quite well by all types of beef cattle, provided that no toxic molds are present. Contact your local of Missouri Extension Center if you need additional help in determining the presence of toxic molds. Beans with storage molds should not be fed to beef cattle. Storage molds (Aspergillus flavis) can be extremely toxic, so beans with storage molds should not be fed to livestock unless extreme care is exercised.

The value of beans will vary with the price of corn and soybean meal. An estimate of the value can be calculated using the following equation: .35 x price/cwt of corn + .75 x price/cwt of SBM = Price/cwt of whole soybeans

For example: Corn at $1.50/bu or $2.70/cwt and soybean meal at $150/ton or $7.50/cwt would give a value for whole soybeans of $6.75/cwt or $3.94 /bu.

This value does not reflect the cost of crushing and handling. Also, it does not reflect any reduction in quality and value due to immaturity, mold, sprouting, moisture level, or presence of foreign matter. Adjustments need to be made for these factors.

The beans should be coarsely crushed for maximum performance, but they can be fed whole with some decrease in performance. The beans may gum up rollers or grinders if they are not mixed with other grains. They also need to be fed within one week of crushing in hot weather and two weeks of crushing in cold weather.

The beans can been fed to most types of beef cattle if they are introduced gradually into the diet. Rapid introduction may result in diarrhea and reduced performance. Remember that beans cannot replace all the soybean meal in a corn silage based diet. They should be limited to 7 percent of the diet for growing calves and 5 percent of the diet for finishing calves, or the amount needed to meet the animal's protein needs, whichever is the lesser amount. The amount fed to growing calves can be increased to 10 percent if the beans are roasted.

The beans should not be fed to young calves that do not have a functional rumen. Nutritional muscular dystrophy and abomasal torsion may result if soybeans are fed to young calves.

Raw soybeans at times offer an opportunity for beef producers to lower their feed costs and improve profitability provided they have the equipment and facilities to feed beans to beef cattle.

In a recent University of Missouri cattle feeding trial, MU researchers concluded soybeans could be included up to 24% of the diet with no deleterious effect on steer performance (Note - this is higher than other studies have concluded so be sure to read other data related to this subject on this website).

The researchers also saw a trend toward better quality grade with the increased amount of whole soybeans in the diet.

For a whole soybean to be an economical replacement for soybean meal the beans should be 94% or less of the cost of the soybean meal said Monty Kerley, MU Animal Scientist.

Kerley, and fellow researcher Gene Felton, compared 4 groups of steers fed rations with different levels of whole soybeans. One group received no whole soybeans, another group received whole soybeans as 8 percent of their diet, and a third group was fed whole soybeans as 16% of their diet. All three groups were given soybean meal. The fourth group received whole soybeans as 24% of their diet and no soybean meal.

Felton said, "we found no differences among the groups in average daily gain, total gain, final body weight, carcass weight, quality grade, backfat, ribeye area, or yield grade".

The following is excerpted and/or adapted from material provided by Drs. Rob Kallenbach, Bill Wiebold, Craig Roberts, and Bill Johnson.......University of Missouri,Columbia.

Soybean hay or silage can provide a good alternative or emergency source of livestock feed if managed correctly. A few tips on handling soybeans for forage are offered below.

Ideally, soybean hay should have been harvested when 50% of the pods had immature beans. In practice, soybeans could have been cut for forage at any stage from the time the pods started to form until the beans were almost fully developed. Quality of soybean hay is quite variable but typically contains 16-19% crude protein and 50-55% total digestible nutrients (TDN) if harvested when 50% of the pods have immature beans. Once leaf-drop occurred forage quality dropped rapidly and soybeans should probably not have been harvested for forage and lower feeding values would be expected.

Soybean hay does not weather well when stored outside. Large round bales of soybean hay when left unprotected from the rain will deteriorate much more rapidly than grass hay. It is common to lose 50% of the forage to weathering if the hay is left unprotected. Storing soybean hay in a well-drained and covered stack or in a barn is imperative.

Often, soybean hay is steamy and may be refused by livestock. Typically, 10-20% of soybean hay is wasted during feeding due to coarse stems. If soybeans were harvested for silage, or if soybean hay is chopped in a tub grinder, cattle will eat almost all of it. However, the stem contains high levels of fiber and low amounts of digestible nutrients. It may be more economical to simply feed more hay and let the cows leave the stems.

A word of caution: soybeans treated with many herbicides Can NOT be used for livestock feed. If in doubt, READ THE LABEL! Herbicides that prohibit feeding of soybean hay or silage to livestock include, but may not be limited to: Assure II, Blazer, Canopy, CanopyXL, Classic, Command, Fusilade, Lasso Micro-Tech, Linex, Lorox, Pinnacle, Pursuit, Scepter, Select, Squadron, Storm, and Tri-Scept. Roundup ready soybeans treated with Roundup Ultra can be harvested for hay or silage unless the Roundup Ultra was used as a harvest aid.

Because the restrictions on herbicide labels change frequently Be Sure To Read The Label of any herbicide applied to soybeans before harvesting for forage.

The following information was provided by Dr. Dan Morrical (Iowa State University) on a popular sheep-listserve in response to a question regarding the feeding of whole soybeans to sheep.

"My first thought on this matter is generally they are not economical compared to soybean meal. Several years ago there were a lot of green soybeans in the upper midwest due to an early frost. Several trials were conducted feeding them to lambs, mostly by South Dakota State University. The beans worked as a protein source for finishing lambs.

Sheep, because they are ruminants, can handle the trypsin inhibitor found in uncooked beans. It was mentioned by some that roasted beans work very well. I agree except that most times the roasted beans are sill not as economical as soybean meal or other oil seed meals.

Precautions when feeding whole or roasted beans are mostly that they contain 18% fat. This high fat content when fed at too high a level can cause reductions in fiber digestion. It can also be dangerous to stand behind a sheep when it coughs. To avoid problems with excess fat intake, limiting the ration to 14% soybeans (adds 3% fat to ration) is generally accepted. Above 14% in the diet there is also a reduction in intake and performance, with reduced nitrogen retention and fiber digestibility."

A continual 24 hour observation during the lambing season is very difficult for most sheep producers. It has been suggested that physical and metabolic activity of ewes could be factors influencing the onset of labor.

A study at Purdue reported that neither long stem alfalfa hay nor finely chopped haylage influenced the time of lambing. Ewes fed haylage did spend more time ruminating than ewes fed hay but it had no influence on time of parturition (lambing). Time of feeding also had no influence on time of lambing in this study.

Reports regarding feeding and lambing time are conflicting. Gonyou and Cobb of Illinois found that feeding at 12 Noon was the optimum time with 69.6 percent of the ewes lambing between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. and only 15.2 percent of the ewes lambing at night from 10 P.M. and 6 A.M.

A behavioral study suggested that a reduction in lambing during feeding was a result of competition for feed by the ewes, resulting in increased levels of adrenaline antagonizing the action of oxytocin on uterine contractions and a delay of labor.

Both Michigan and Kansas have demonstrated that raw soybeans can be incorporated in gestation and lactation diets. Both of these trials were run through more than a single farrowing.

Apparently, the use of raw soybeans in mature swine does not reduce performance as it does in the growing pig.

In the Michigan study there was no improvement in performance from the added fat in the raw soybeans.

Therefore, the decision to incorporate raw soybeans into sow diets probably rests on evaluating the price relationship of soybeans and soybean meal.The addition of ground raw soybeans would be an easy way to add fat to the diet as whole soybeans contain about 18% fat. This could help improve the caloric intake of sows if this is a particular problem within a herd.

Remember that storage time can be limited and rancidity a potential problem when utilizing ground raw soybeans.


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		University of Missouri Extension Adair County adairco@missouri.edu Updated 04/28/06