Practice Abstract 25 - Comparing field beans with soya in beef diets

Short title (native language): 
Comparing field beans with soya in beef diets

Short summary for practitioners (native language): 
Faba beans can replace soya in beef diets. BUT there are several differences between the two which will vary in importance depending on the age of the animals being fed. Misinformation includes that tannins and other anti-nutritionals in beans will reduce livestock performance – but at the levels required for balanced ruminant rations this is never an issue.Yet a number of beef farmers have been using beans successfully in various forms to reduce, or even eliminate, their need for bought-in protein. Hipro soya which is heat-treated during the oil extraction process to denature the trypsin inhibitors which would otherwise interfere with protein digestion. This treatment is not required for home-grown beans. However, the difference in protein level and quality does affect the way that the two are utilised by the animal.
When rationing ruminants it is important to balance the amount of ERDP (Effective Rumen Degradable Protein) and DUP (Digestible Undegradable Protein) and this varies for different ages and classes of stock. Younger beef cattle need some DUP in early life when the rumen is not fully functional. Lupins can be a direct replacement for soya in calf diets but, from around 3 to 4 months of age, the entire supplementary protein requirement can usually be met by using beans. The forms in which beans can be fed will vary according to availability of other feeds, on farm storage and processing capacity, building design and feeding system. Beans are currently under-utilised in beef diets and ruminant rations in general. Many mixed farms can certainly become more self-sufficient in their livestock enterprises by adding a legume to their crop rotation. This will improve soil health and fertility as well as the profitability of the livestock enterprise.