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July 20, 2006 Using Soybeans as Forage Is Option in Droughts Using soybeans as livestock forage may be an option for producers facing severe dry conditions in North and South Dakota. Soybean forage will range from 16 percent to 21 percent crude protein and will have 75 percent to 80 percent of the energy of corn silage, according to Erik Loe, South Dakota State University Extension Service beef feedlot specialist. “Use similar harvesting procedures as making haylage,” Loe says. “Chop when the plant moisture content is approximately 65 percent. It is important to chop the silage when the moisture content is high, the earlier the better due to the higher percent stem moisture and the increase in processing to allow proper packing in the silo.” “The moisture content of the whole soybean plant typically remains near 70 percent until the pods are fully developed and the leaves start falling off,” according to Ron Wiederholt, North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center livestock waste management specialist. “Under moisture stress conditions, this may not hold true. Therefore, samples need to be taken to assure that whole-plant dry-matter content is appropriate for ensiling.” Research from Wisconsin suggests that soybean forage can be high quality. Be sure that soybean forage is tested because of the possibility of high nitrate levels, Wiederholt and Loe added. Ensiling will decrease nitrates by altering the form of nitrogen in the forage. While nitrate is not toxic to animals, it can cause problems such as abortions and death at high levels. The oil content of soybean forage will increase as the pods develop. Pods that are half- full will contain about 3 percent oil, increasing to more than 6 percent oil with full pod development before there is any leaf drop. Depending on pod development, the oil content of soybean forage will be higher than haylage or silage. The oil content should not be a concern when soybean forage is fed with other feedstuffs. “It’s also crucial to be aware of any feeding or grazing restrictions that are on the labels of the pesticides that were used on the soybeans,” Wiederholt says. More information on farming during extremely dry conditions is available at www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought/ or http://sdces.sdstate.edu/drought/. ### Source: Ron
Wiederholt, (701) 652-2951, rwiederh@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
