Deciding Whether Soybeans Should Be Fed to Beef Cattle in 2025

By Andi Anderson

Low grain commodity prices have encouraged many cattle producers to evaluate whether feeding whole soybeans may be more profitable than selling them.

Deciding between feeding or marketing soybeans requires understanding their nutrient value, feeding limitations, and the cost of alternative protein and energy sources.

Soybeans contain about 40% crude protein on a dry matter basis, making them a strong protein supplement for beef cattle. They also provide nearly 20% oil, which adds energy to the diet.

Because soybeans have an inverted calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, additional calcium may be needed, especially when feeding grain-based rations such as corn silage, wheatlage, or finishing diets. Ensuring a balanced mineral ratio is important for maintaining cattle health.

However, the high oil content also limits how much soybean can be fed. Too much unsaturated fat can reduce forage digestibility and interfere with microbial fermentation in the rumen.

Diets with more than 6% total fat may lead to slower digestion and reduced feed passage. Since forages often contain around 2% fat, soybeans generally should not contribute more than 3% additional fat. For mature cows, this typically limits whole soybean feeding to no more than 4 pounds per day on an as-fed basis.

Economic considerations also play a major role. Producers often compare soybean value to alternative feeds by calculating the cost per unit of protein. For example, if soybeans sell for around $9.80 to $10.30 per bushel, and subtracting $0.35 for hauling, the adjusted price becomes about $9.75.

When compared with dried distillers grains at $235 per ton and 28% protein, the cost per pound of protein is equal at $0.47, making soybeans a comparable protein source.

However, soybeans also provide more energy, so a more accurate comparison includes both protein and energy value. Using corn priced at $5.05 per bushel for energy and dried distillers grains for protein, soybeans would need to be priced below $7.26 per bushel to be the more economical choice in many rations.

In most cases, soybeans must be significantly discounted at the elevator to justify feeding them. Their high oil content limits inclusion in forage-based diets, making alternative feeds more flexible. Producers seeking more information can consult Extension resources or review the ASC-245 fact sheet on feeding soybeans to cattle.

Photo Credit: soybeans-for-forage