Soy Bean Oilmeal and Ground Soy Beans as Protein Supplements in Dairy Rations

Abstract

I t has been a problem to develop on Indiana farms crops which would supply sufficient protein in the dairy ration. Up to this time cottonseed meal, linseed oilmeM and gluten meal have been the chief ~igh protein concentrates that have been used in the dairy ration. As all of these feeds must be purchased and brought to the farm, a much smaller quantity of them has been fed than that which should be fed. Recently there has been considerable interest in the growing of soy beans on Indiana farms, and inquiries have been very frequently made by Indiana dairymen as to whether soy beans could be used as protein supplements in the dairy ration. A number of early feeding trials have been made comparing soy bean oilmeal and soy bean cake with cottonseed meal as a protein supplement in the dairy ration, and they were found equal to or superior to cottonseed meal for production. Similar results have been obtained with ground soy beans (1) (2) (3). At the Indiana station (4), it has been found that ground soy beans together with a mineral mixture might be supplemented with good results for purchased protein concentrates in the ration of hogs. Feeding trials conducted recently (5) indicate that ground soy beans can be supplemented for linseed oilmeal in the dairy ration, and that soy bean oilmeal has practically the same feeding vaiue as linseed oilmeal for milk production. I t has been suggested by some feed manufacturers interested in soy bean products, that farmers might send their soy beans to the mills where the oil would be extracted and the oilmeal returned to the farmers, the miller accepting the oil for his part of the transaction. In the feeding of ground soy .beans, the preparation of this feed