The unique microbiota of the rumen allows cattle to ferment a variety of by-products, such as soybean hulls from soybean processing. The hull is made from the skin of soybeans, making them a good source of fiber and non-structural carbohydrates, and can be made into pellet or ground form. Since monogastric animals poorly utilize hulls due to their high fiber content, feeding these by-products to cattle and other ruminants reduces waste and is extremely cost effective for producers.
Benefits and Uses That Can Save Money
Whether soybean hulls come in ground or pellet form, both have the same nutritional content. Commercial companies may prefer the ground form which aids them to mixing in with other products to create complete supplements. Pellet form increases bulk density which helps reduce transportation costs. This also helps to prevent feed from blowing away, allowing cattle to consume and utilize more of the feed when compared to the loose form.
Soybean hulls, like corn, can be an energy source for diets. Replacing corn with soybean hulls varies depending on the type of cattle and diet goals. For instance, hull pellets are a highly digested fiber source making an excellent replacement for corn in creep feed diets. Also, inclusion in backgrounding diets helps familiarity if creep fed and maintains a highly palatable ration. When looking into limit-fed feedlot diets, the high digestibility of soybean hulls lowers manure production which can reduce labor and be beneficial for the production environment. Like most by-product feeds, studies have shown that the nutritional content varies a great deal when looking at hulls, so they are better recommended to use as supplements, rather than full replacement of grains, especially in high energy feedlot diets. Soybean hull pellets are best utilized as an ingredient or supplement to a balanced ration for a variety of ruminant diets.
When winter months come around, soybean hulls can be quite beneficial to either incorporate with or replace a portion of the hay. This allows hay to be conserved during winter months, saving money and hay stores. Soybean hulls can also be cost effective by helping relieve the toll of fescue toxicosis. Fescue toxicosis causes reduced reproductive performance of cows and negatively affects weaning weights and gains. Soybean hulls help decrease the symptoms of fescue toxicosis because they contain isoflavones and help dilute the diet. It is estimated the beef cattle industry can lose up to 1 billion dollars per year due to this fungal infection of fescue, so the relief soybean hulls can bring is extremely beneficial.
Precautions Before Taking Action
Soybean hull nutritional content is not always consistent. It is best to sample for nutrient analysis and utilize in a formulated, balanced ration. Depending on the diet before incorporating hulls, mineral content may need adjustment. For example, DDGS have higher phosphorus levels than hulls, requiring a different mineral composition to prevent deficiencies from developing. Corn has similar mineral composition, resulting in a little to no need for switching. Bloating can become a serious issue with intake levels of seven pounds or higher. Ionophores mixed into feed and long-stem roughage can work as a bloat preventative. Hulls contain urease enzymes and are toasted to destroy urease activity, but precautions should be taken when combining soybean hulls with a diet already made up of urea containing feed to prevent issues.
Summary
Cattle possess an exceptional capability to make use of by-products. Soybean hull pellets are an example of one of these by-products that can benefit producers as an inexpensive alternative feed. There are a variety of uses for soybean hull pellets, but the switch or implementation should not be made without precautions to ensure a healthy herd. Purchasing soybean hulls is best in late summer or early fall and it is recommended to compare prices to corn and other potential feedstuffs to make the best economical decision.
Payton Block is a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who works in beef production, research, and producer outreach as a University of Illinois Extension intern in the I-BELIEF program through the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This article has been reviewed by Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator, Travis Meteer.