Soybean hulls are a byproduct feed that can replace 1.5 to 2 lb. of low- to medium-quality hay per pound fed, with an energy value nearly equal to corn — making them one of the most cost-effective ways for drought-stressed cattle producers to stretch limited forage supplies.
Nebraska Extension Educator Aaron Berger says as drought conditions persist, cattle producers should consider feed resources that can complement low-quality forage.
“With the increase in soybean processing facilities in Nebraska, one of the major co-products of these plants is soybean hulls,” Berger explains in a recent UNL BeefWatch article, giving producers in the region a growing, accessible supply.
What Are Soybean Hulls?
Soybean hulls are a byproduct of soybean processing, available either loose or as pellets. Because they are light and fluffy, they are often pelleted to increase bulk density and make handling and transport easier.
What Is the Nutrient Value of Soybean Hulls?
Berger explains soybean hulls run around 90% dry matter and 12% crude protein, though crude protein can range from 9% to 14% depending on the source. In terms of energy, soybean hulls have been shown to provide 64% to 80% total digestible nutrients (TDN), depending on the rest of the diet and the amount fed.
In a forage-based diet, when supplemented at 0.5% of body weight, soybean hulls have an energy value nearly equal to corn — as high as 80% TDN on a dry-matter basis.
“When comparing soybean hulls to other feed resources, compare them on a price per pound of dry-matter nutrient — protein and energy — in the diet that will be consumed by the animal,” Berger explains.
How Much Soybean Hulls Should You Feed Cattle?
Feeding soybean hulls at 20% to 30% of the diet on a dry-matter basis appears to be an optimum inclusion level in most situations, Berger adds.
What Is the Bloat Risk with Soybean Hulls?
Because soybean hulls are low in lignin, their cellulose is highly digestible in the rumen and ferments rapidly. According to Berger, this creates two practical considerations for producers:
- Bloat risk increases when soybean hulls are fed at a high percentage of the diet.
- Rate of passage speeds up when soybean hulls are fed at higher levels with limited long-stem forage. The small particles in soybean hulls move through the digestive tract quickly, reducing the time rumen microbes have to break down and utilize the fiber for energy.
Including long-stem forage or other lower-quality roughage alongside soybean hulls slows the rate of passage, increasing the time hulls spend in the rumen and improving fiber digestion.
How Do Soybean Hulls Compare to Hay?
Berger explains 1 lb. of soybean hulls on a dry matter basis can replace 1.5 to 2 lb. of low- to medium-quality hay. This makes them a high-quality, fiber-based energy and protein source that enhances the ability of rumen microbes to utilize other forage in the diet.
“Soybean hulls tend to have a “synergistic effect” when fed to cattle with free access to medium- to low-quality forage,” he says. “This means that it doesn’t replace on a 1:1 basis the forage cattle are consuming and will in many cases actually increase the total dry-matter consumption.”
Soybean hulls fit especially well in situations where medium- to low-quality forage is the primary feed source.
Are Soybean Hulls a Good Option for Creep Feed and Weaned Calves?
Berger says yes. “Soybean hulls and pellets are quite palatable, and are readily consumed, making them an excellent component of creep feeds and diets for calves at weaning. Because the energy in soybean hulls is from highly digestible fiber, they are an excellent complement to forage-based diets.”
