10 MASS. EXPI:RIMRNT station bulletin 309 



Hay. — One of the most coiniuon uses of ihs soybean is for h;i\-, which can be 

 fed profitabh' to ail l^iiuls of li\est()cl<. As a sjurce of protein that can bs pro- 

 duced on the farm to l)alance fee Is for growing stock or for milk and butter 

 production, soybean ha\- will reduce the (juantity of high-priced concentrates 

 that it is necessary to purchase. 



According to Henr\' and Morrison, soybean hay is slightly richer in total digest- 

 ible nutrients than is alfalfa. Animals usualK" refuse more of the coarse stems of 

 so\'beans than of alfalfa, but this will var\- with the \-ariet>" of so}-bean and the 

 rate of seeding, a heav\- rate giving a finer quality of forage. In Table 4 are 

 given fodder anahses of six varieties of so>beans grown in the test at this Station. 

 In addition the mean anahsis of five varieties of alfalfa grown near-b\' is given 

 for comparison. It will be noted that the soybeans generally run slightly lower 

 in crude protein but higher in nitrogen-free extract and fat than the alfalfa. 

 Considerable variation in the composition of the varieties of soybeans ma\" be 

 noted. It is of interest that the high-\ielding varieties in these tests are also high 

 in total digestible nutrients. 



T.\BLE 4. --Fodder An.\lyses of Soybe.xn .\nd Alf.\lf.\ H.ws^ 



(Dr\- Matter Basis) 



'These analyses, as well as the dry-matter determinations in connection with the variety tests, 

 were made in the Feed Control Laboratory under the direction of Philip H. Smith. 



Silage. — The soybean as a supplement to corn silage, using 2 to 3 parts of corn 

 and 1 of soybeans, makes a well-balanced silage that keeps well, is readih' eaten 

 b\' stock, and produces no bad effects on the quality' of milk and its products. 

 Soxbeans ma>- be grown with the corn, or the crops may be grown separately 

 and mixed in the proper proportions when filling the silo. For silage the\ ma\' 

 be cut an>- time from full bloom until the pods are full grown, although the best 

 qualit\' silage is oljtained when the seed are one-half to iwo-thirtls grown. 



Soiling. — Because of its palatability, ease of handling, and great variation in 

 maturing of varieties, the soybean makes an excellent soiling crop. It is possible 

 to have a green feed throughout ihe summer and fall b\- planting x'arieties of 

 different maturit\-. 



Soil Improvement. — The soybean makes no sod and has but a small root s\"stem, 

 and therefore it has but little value for soil improvement unless the entire crop 

 is plowed under. In that respect it is inferior to the clovers and other legumes 



