An experiment was conducted at the University of Missouri to determine the replacement value of whole soybeans in feedlot rations. Dietary treatments consisted of 0, 8, 16 and 24 percent whole soybeans. These treatments replaced 0, 33, 66 and 100 of the soybean meal in the diets. There were no treatment differences in total gain, carcass quality grades, or yield grades. The results suggested that whole soybeans could replace all of the soybean meal and some of corn in conventional feedlot diets. These studies indicated whole soybeans can be included up to 24% of the diet without adverse effects on steer performance and may actually be beneficial on carcass characteristics. The researchers concluded that the economic opportunity costs for feeding whole soybeans were 94% of the costs of soybean meal on a protein basis.

Felton, E.E.D. and M.S. Kerley. 1998. Effects of feeding whole soybeans on feedlot steer performance and carcass characteristics. Am. Soc. Anim. Sci. Abstracts, p76.