Heat Treated Soybeans Improves Cattle Growth

By Scout Nelson

Assistant Professor & SDSU Extension Feedlot Management Specialist Warren Rusche highlighted that replacing all or part of corn distillers grains with heat treated soybeans can improve growth performance and profitability in finishing cattle diets. The findings came from controlled feedlot studies designed to reflect modern cattle genetics, feeding practices, and current feed costs.

Distillers grains have been a major protein source in cattle diets for more than two decades due to wide availability and low cost. Over time, pricing has changed, and distillers grains are now often similar in cost to corn. At the same time, cattle today grow faster, marble better, and reach heavier market weights. Because of these changes, researchers are re-evaluating protein sources to identify better feeding options.

Heat treated soybeans offer several advantages. Heating soybeans changes protein structure, allowing more usable protein to reach the small intestine. Soybeans also supply more lysine than corn-based feeds, which supports muscle growth. In addition, soybeans contain oil, which increases energy density and can improve feed efficiency.

In one study, researchers fully replaced distillers grains with full-fat extruded soybeans. Cattle fed soybeans showed higher average daily gain, improved feed efficiency, and heavier carcass weights. However, full replacement increased feed costs more than the added value of gain, making it less profitable under current prices.

Researchers then tested partial replacement. In this study, a small portion of distillers grains was replaced with full-fat extruded soybeans. Cattle gained weight faster, finished heavier, and produced heavier carcasses. While feed costs increased slightly, the added weight and carcass value more than offset those costs, resulting in higher profits per head.

The research suggests that blending heat treated soybeans with distillers grains improve protein quality and energy intake without sharply increasing feed expenses. While further research is needed to study different growth stages and processing methods, results so far show partial replacement is a practical option for today’s cattle feeders.

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