In the Furrow
Cotton Harvest & Cattle
By Will Duffie County Extension Coordinator

The sight of defoliated cotton ready for harvest is a true sign of fall in Burke County. The

importance of cotton on the agricultural industry is significant. Even though cotton acres

have

dropped to 21,000 in our county this year, it provides numerous jobs for our local economy.

The Burke County beef and dairy industry is strong and growing. Producers of cattle look forward to reaping the ben- efits of living in a cotton county. Once the cotton is processed in a cotton gin, the 500 pound bales are stacked in the warehouse, gin trash is piled up outside, and the cottonseed is piled up in a warehouse. Then the cottonseed is ready to be purchased by the cattle producer.

Cattle benefit from whole cottonseed in a ration because it can supply protein, energy and fiber to a diet. It is an excellent supplement to low quality grass hay for dry and lactating cows because it supplies energy and protein. Each pound of cottonseed will provide 0.2 pounds of crude protein and 0.87 pounds of TDN on a dry matter basis. It can be included up to 7 pounds per day in mature cow diets. This would provide 1.5 pounds of supplemental crude protein and 6.1 pounds of TDN.

Stocker calves cannot be fed as much whole cotton-seed in the diet as mature cows. The cottonseed should not exceed 15 percent of diet dry matter for stocker calves and dairy cows. When dietary whole cottonseed exceeds 15 percent of diet dry matter, feed intake, daily gains and feed efficiency are decreased.

Cattlemen need to be aware of a few precautions. Whole cottonseed contains some free gossypol that can be toxic. However, gossypol toxicity is usually not a concern with beef cattle except for young calves under four months of age and for breeding bulls. Gossypol is known to interfere with male fertility. Gossypol-induced infertility in bulls should not be of concern if recommended feeding levels are not exceeded. However, to err on the side of caution, do not feed whole cottonseed to bulls 60 to 90 days before the start of the breeding season. Avoid feeding cottonseed to non-ruminant animals.

The preferred feeding method is to hand feed. Hand feeding whole cottonseed in a trough each day prevents over-eating. Once cattle are adapted to whole cottonseed, a self feeder may be beneficial. Monitor intake and adjust feeding rates with self feeders.

For more information contact the UGA - Burke County Extension Office at (706) 554- 2119.