Soybean Meal Supplementation of Pasture

Another approach to supplementing needed protein to grazing ruminants was reported in an experiment that compared protein supplementation and/or nitrogen fertilization on forage intake and nitrogen balance in cannulated dairy cows grazing ryegrass pasture. Results indicated that supplementing with 2kg of soybean meal did not depress forage intake of grazing time; the supplemented cows consumed 2.4kg more organic matter and increased milk yield by 1.3kg per kg of soybean meal consumed. Soybean meal supplementation increased nitrogen intake and urine excretion of nitrogen. The researchers concluded that nitrogen fertilization of the pastures and/or protein supplementation is efficient means to manipulate animal performance and nitrogen balance in grazing dairy cows.

Astigarraga, L. and co-workers. 2002. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer rate and protein supplementation on the herbage intake and the nitrogen balance of grazing dairy cows. Animal Research 51(4): 279-293.