Soy is the number one source of protein used in animal feed supplements worldwide. These legumes also boast a host of other nutrients that might benefit your cattle in different ways.
Soy is especially a staple ingredient in supplements designed for monogastric animal species. However, this nutritious food may offer immense benefits to ruminants too.
Monogastric animals are those with a single stomach chamber. Examples include horses, pigs, rabbits, and poultry. They differ in how they feed from ruminants – animals with multi-chambered stomachs. Like humans, monogastric animals do not regurgitate their food. Ruminants, on the other hand, swallow large volumes of food without much chewing. They then repeat the food later, chew it properly, and swallow it.
This article examines the top five reasons to incorporate soy into animal feeds.
- Soy Is Rich in Protein
This is why soy is a common ingredient in animal feed supplements. Soy is the richest source of protein worldwide. Protein comprises 36% of a standard serving amount of raw soybeans.
Now, there’s always the option of feeding your livestock animal protein sources obtained from reputable animal feed manufacturers. This is especially if you keep carnivorous pets like dogs or omnivorous livestock like chickens. But if you mainly rear herbivorous animals like cattle, then your best bet is to consider protein-rich plant sources like soy.
Protein is the building block for developing all tissues in an animal’s body. That makes it the most important nutrient besides water.
Protein is also involved in energy production and food metabolism. For this reason, many vets recommend soy formulations, particularly for ailing pets, such as those recovering from serious illnesses. You can check U.S. Soy News for a better understanding.
- Soy Is High In Fiber
Protein may be the most useful nutrient in soy. But it’s not the only one. There’s also dietary fiber. Soy contains soluble and insoluble fiber, which may benefit your livestock in various ways.
Soluble fiber is readily absorbed in an animal’s gut, nourishing the beneficial microorganisms that live throughout the alimentary canal, commonly known as gut microbiota. Numerous studies have shown that keeping these organisms healthy is a proactive way of preventing certain metabolic disorders.
On the other hand, insoluble fiber isn’t immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead, this type of dietary fiber moves through the stomach undigested, where it helps add bulk to stools. Bulkier stools translate to a regular bowel movement. It’s also an effective way to relieve digestive issues, particularly constipation, and flatulence.
Note that soy formulations come with different amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber. Therefore, it’s essential to choose your supplements wisely. For instance, soy hulls are richer in insoluble fiber than dehulled soy grains. Soy flour also contains more fiber than soy milk.
- Soy Is Chockfull of Antioxidants Too
We cannot exhaust soy’s nutritional profile without discussing its antioxidant properties. Soybeans are especially rich in beta-conglycinin, compounds noted for their incredible disease-prevention abilities.
According to research, beta-conglycinin contains tremendous atheroprotective properties. Supplementing your livestock feeds with diets rich in this compound may help guard against atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
Beta-conglycinin has also been associated with the upregulation of liver high-affinity LDL receptors. That’s another reason soy-rich animal feeds may prevent cardiovascular issues. Thanks to soy’s potent antioxidant properties, the legume has earned special recognition from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Soy Comes In Diverse Formulations
This is another reason behind soy’s ever-rising popularity in the animal feed industry. All livestock aren’t made equal. While some can easily munch on soy hulls, others would be more at home snacking on soybean bread. Therefore, it’s imperative to understand your livestock’s dietary needs to choose the right soy supplements.
Below are some of the common formulations that soy-based animal feeds usually come in;
- Dry soy fodder – Excellent for larger ruminants like cows, sheep, and goats
- Edamame fodder – Recommended for smaller monogastric animals like rabbits
- Whole soybeans – Perfect for poultry and birds
- Soy flour – Suitable for poultry and smaller animals like rabbits and hamsters
- Soy Milk – Great for cats and dogs
- Processed soybean cake – Works for all animals
- Soy Is Easy To Cultivate
If you’re into crop and livestock production but are averse to the idea of processed soy animal supplements, you might want to cultivate your soy crops. Fortunately, soy is one of the easiest crops to grow. That’s due to its relative hardiness compared to most cereals.
Soybeans follow a near-similar growth process as bush beans. The two plants are typically planted the same way.
But even the most resilient plants require certain optimal growing conditions. In the case of soy, aim for soil temperature between 50 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The crop also favors relative humidity of about 70% to 75% and at least 8 hours of sunlight every day.
If the conditions are right, you should be able to harvest your soybeans about 100 – 160 days after planting or a few weeks earlier in the case of edamame. In addition to their ease of cultivation and fast maturation, soybeans are also high-yielding crops. You can expect yields as high as 80,000 seeds per acre.
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Summary
There are numerous reasons to incorporate soy into your animal feeds. However, remember that soy shouldn’t replace your livestock’s staple diet. The legume works best when used as a supplement.
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