It has long been the darling of the lactating cow ration. Dairy nutrition research dating back as far as the 1920s touts the multitude of benefits that cottonseed delivers to milking cows.
But don’t forget about cottonseed for heifer feed. Depending on price and other feedstuff availability, cottonseed can be a versatile staple for heifer rations, too. According to Cotton Incorporated, the commodity research and marketing organization for U.S. cotton growers, more than 50% of the annual supply of whole cottonseed is consumed by dairy cattle.
The beauty of whole cottonseed for dairy rations of all kinds lies in its “triple-20” nutrient profile. It contains 20% or more protein, fat, and fiber on a dry-matter basis. In one unique package, it contains the chemical composition of forage, grain, and protein supplements, and can be substituted, within limits, for any of these ration components.
What’s more, the fat in whole cottonseed is rumen-protected, so it will not interfere with fiber digestion like free oils and fats. Its lower heat increment compared to starch-based ingredients makes it a popular energy source to support heat-stress abatement. And some research has shown that the fat in whole cottonseed also improves reproductive performance, a benefit for growing heifers.
Cotton Inc. notes that the crude protein in whole cottonseed is a “true protein,” which makes it superior to non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in high-forage diets.
Whole cottonseed also can serve as an excellent forage extender. The fuzzy, white portion of the seed – called linters – looks like leftover cotton fibers. But it’s actually cellulose, a highly effective fiber source.
In addition to whole cottonseed, additional components of the cotton plant can make worthy and economical contributions to dairy heifer rations. Cottonseed hulls and gin trash are high-fiber, low-nutrient-dense co-product options that can be swapped with straw to add bulk to heifer rations.
Cottonseed meal – the “leftovers” after oil is expressed from whole cottonseed – is a high-protein feedstuff containing about 40-45% protein on a dry-matter basis and 1.2% supplemental phosphorus. It can be a cost-effective substitute for soybean meal, but caution must be taken when feeding it to young heifers due to the potential for gossypol toxicity.
Gossypol is a naturally occurring insecticide in the cotton plant that can adversely affect red blood cells in cattle. For this reason, cotton products should not be fed to pre-weaned calves at all. That’s particularly true for cottonseed meal, which will contain higher concentrations of gossypol than whole cottonseed. Some nutritionists advise against feeding cotton products to calves 4 months of age and younger.
Extension dairy experts at University of Georgia recommended that a good source of available iron in the ration can reduce the risk of gossypol toxicity. They suggested young ruminants may safely be fed 5-10 mg. per pound of live weight of gossypol. As an example, a 700-pound heifer consuming 3.10 pounds of whole cottonseed per day would consume about 7 grams of gossypol.
As an on-farm commodity, the ubiquitous ration applications of whole cottonseed make it an attractive feedstuff choice for dairies seeking to simplify commodity sourcing details and storage organization. And its powerful nutrient package makes for easier ration building, particularly for heifer grower formulations.
Good buys on cottonseed can be snagged by nimble brokers who track its rapidly fluctuating values. The average price/ton of whole cottonseed currently ranges from about $300 in Alabama to $515 in the Pacific Northwest. But within the last 5 years, the price has been as low as $150/ton according to Cotton Intelligence Monthly, and values in the $200-300/ton range have been common.
The industry newsletter noted that, compared to the historical price relationship to cash corn, soybean meal or distillers dried grain, cottonseed values are often below average and competitively priced. Up-to-date marketing information and brokerage assistance for whole cottonseed can be found online at the Cottonseed Marketplace.
