Soybean (Glycine max)
Soybean varieties were developed for oilseed production but can be used for high quality grazing or hay with yields of 2 to 3 tons of dry forage per acre. Hay should be harvested when pods are 75% filled, requires a hay conditioner and is difficult to cure. Soybean grows best in well-drained soils and tolerates drought when grown for forage. Soybean should be control-grazed with one- to three-day duration. Goats should be moved to a fresh cut when the plants are not totally defoliated to insure regrowth. Under proper management, soybean can be grazed three times during the growing season (July – September). Soybean can be first grazed when 24 inch tall and has excellent nutritive value (>25 to 30% crude protein).
Luginbuhl, J-M. 2006. Pastures for Meat Goats. In: Meat Goat Production Handbook, ed. T.A. Gipson, R.C. Merkel, K. Williams, and T. Sahlu, Langston University, ISBN 1-880667-04-5.
