Due to a wet spring, late plantings, and a cooler growing season, the recent frost in the northern half of the region has resulted in some frost-damaged or green soybeans.  Green beans are often severely docked at the elevator because the higher levels of chlorophyll in the bean will also end up in the soybean oil and soybean meal after they are processed, which will then be discounted in the market.

However, research at SDSU has shown that the swine industry is an excellent market for green, immature soybeans.  Finishing pigs fed extruded green soybeans grew at the same rate but were more efficient than the pigs fed mature extruded soybeans.  Also, there were no differences in carcass characteristics.  Raw soybeans must be heat-treated to inactivate the anti-nutritional factors in soybeans before they can be fed to pigs, and if the soybean is fully developed but just green, it has the same feeding value as mature/yellow soybeans after they are extruded.    Depending on the cost of the bean at the elevator and cost of extrusion, there can be significant feed cost savings by using frost-damaged soybeans as a protein source in pig diets.  One of the benefits of feeding extruded or “full-fat” soybeans is that it’s a very easy way to add fat to a diet.

For more information, contact Dr. Bob Thaler, SDSU Extension Swine Specialist or your local Extension personnel.