18 September 2006

5 minute read

This information is intended to help beef producers (both cow-calf and stocker operators) better evaluate feeding options this year.

Cotton Products

Whole Cottonseed
Whole cottonseed is a major by-product of the cotton ginning process.   

• Excellent beef cattle feed, good energy and protein levels
• 2 lbs. cottonseed roughly equal to 1 lb. each of corn and cottonseed meal
• Readily available in cotton-producing areas
• High fat content limits use levels to 25% or less of total dry matter intake
• Feed no more than 5 to 6 lbs. per head per day to mature cattle
• Feed no more than 2 to 3 lbs. per head per day to weaned calves
• Do not feed at more than 20% of the diet for cattle in stocker or finishing programs
• Must be hand fed
• Flow limitations in feeding bins and equipment, difficult to auger or gravity flow   

• Extremely palatable
• High in crude fiber, lowly digestible
• Can be used as the sole roughage source in cattle diets
• Good hay-replacer diet ingredient or alternative to chopped hay in mixed feeds
• Bulky with excellent mixing qualities at low levels in concentrate diets
• Should not exceed 10 to 25% of diet for growing or finishing cattle
• Often expensive

Cottonseed Meal
Cottonseed meal is a by-product of the cottonseed oil milling process.

• Excellent locally available protein source
• Works well in a hot-mix (mixed with salt and offered free-choice)

Cotton Gin Trash
Cotton gin trash is a by-product of the cotton ginning process. Gin trash contains boll residues,
leaves, stems, and lint.

• Bulky
• Unpalatable, high fiber, low energy feed
• Inexpensive feed with limited uses
• Practical use is in hay-replacer diets when mixed with other feeds

Cotton Mote
Cotton mote is the cotton extracted by a gin’s lint cleaner during the cotton ginning process.

• High fiber, low energy feed
• Palatability usually not a problem
• Most baled into 4’ x 4’ x 5’ bales
• Can be handled and fed with same equipment used for large round hay bales
• Practical use is in hay-replacer diets with other supplemental feeds  

Wheat Products

• Should be mixed with other ingredients to reduce acidosis risk
• Feed at no more than 0.5% of animal body weight
• Coarsely cracked or rolled wheat is more digestible than whole grain wheat
• Not commonly used as a feed grain in Mississippi

Wheat Middlings (Midds)
Wheat midds result from the wheat milling process.

• Good energy and protein content
• Available as loose meal or pellets
• Pelleted form cannot be stored for any length of time during hot, humid weather
• Practical use in Mississippi only during winter
• Should be combined with other ingredients to reduce risk of founder and bloat
• Moderately palatable
• Limit to 50% or less of total dry matter intake
• High phosphorus levels relative to calcium levels

Peanut Products

Peanut Hay
Peanut hay is composed of the vines and leaves of peanut plants after the peanuts are
harvested.

• Protein content is fair to good
• Energy content is low
• Extremely palatable to cattle
• Highly susceptible to spoilage and losses unless stored under wrap or cover
• Can be used as the primary forage in cattle diets when supplemented properly

Peanut Hulls
Peanut hulls are the by-product of the peanut shelling process.

• Extremely bulky and difficult to handle
• High in fiber, extremely low in energy and protein
• Availability depends upon proximity to shelling plant
• Uses in hay-replacer diets and as an extender in stocker concentrate diets
• Do not use finely ground or pelleted peanut hulls (health risk to cattle)

Peanut Skins
Peanut skins are the result of skin removal from the peanut kernel.

• Very limited potential in beef cattle diets
• Difficult to handle, light, bulky, flow problems, can be blown by wind
• Moderate protein and energy levels
• High tannin levels that reduce protein digestibility and decrease palatability
• Do not use at levels of more than 10% of dietary dry matter

Raw Peanuts
Raw, whole peanuts are typically valued higher for uses other than as cattle feed.

• Very good energy and protein levels
• High fat content limits feeding levels
• Maximum of 4 lbs. per day should be fed to mature cattle
• Must be introduced to cattle gradually
• Check aflatoxin levels before feeding (do not exceed 200 ppb in cattle diets)

Rice Products

Rice Bran
Rice bran is a by-product of the rice milling process.

• Finely ground material, handling and storage in bins difficult, blending with other feeds improves flow
• Moderate protein levels
• High fat content unless defatted, limit to no more than one-third of diet
• Substantially less energy than soybean hulls even with high fat levels
• High fat rice bran less palatable and susceptible to rancidity in warm weather
• High phosphorus content

Rice Millfeed
Rice millfeed is a by-product of the rice milling process. 

• Finely ground material
• Combination of rice hull and rice bran
• Often highly variable in composition
• Founder is possible when fed at high levels
• Handling characteristics similar to rice bran
• Typically less expensive and longer storage life than rice bran

Rice Hulls
Rice hulls are a by-product of the rice milling process.

• Extremely low nutritional value in beef cattle diets

Additional By-Product Feeds

• With wet brewers grains, 75% of product transported is water
• Shelf life is a concern with wet feed
• Should be stored in anaerobic conditions or stacked and fed rapidly
• Good protein content
• Usefulness limited due to high water content

Cane Molasses
Cane molasses is a by-product from sugar manufacture.

• Extremely palatable
• Excellent energy source
• Commonly blended with vitamins and minerals

Citrus Pulp
Citrus pulp is made by shredding, liming, pressing, and drying the peel, pulp, and seed residues from citrus fruit.

• Availability and cost-effectiveness for use in Mississippi is limited
• Good energy supplement
• Very digestible, low protein, high fiber feed
• Excellent feed if acquired, best deals usually in mid-winter
• Should be limited to one-third or less of the diet for growing beef cattle
• Initial palatability problems with calves quickly overcome
• Often pelleted to facilitate transportation
• Darkening toward a black color indicative of overheating

To view part 1 of this feature click here

September 2006