The value of whole cottonseed (WCS) in lactating dairy rations has been known for considerable time. WCS not only is a good supplier of fat (20 percent) and protein (20 percent) but also has some roughage value. WCS will lay on the rumen mat of a dairy cow and be regurgitated with the forage and chewed with the other cud contents. The University of Tennessee and Texas A&M both did research suggesting that this happens with fuzzy whole cottonseed but not with delinted. Furthermore less than 1 percent of the whole cottonseed passed through the digestive tract undigested and ended up in the manure.

The problem with regular whole fuzzy cottonseed is that it is hard to handle, thereby making delinted more practical even if it doesn't have as much roughage effect. Recently a company out of North Carolina introduced a starch-coated whole cottonseed that feeds and performs like regular WCS but will flow and can be handled similar to other ingredients.

The digestibility and the amount appearing in the feces were less than 2 percent. By the time this article appears, starch-treated WCS should be in our mills and our feeds. At the Aurora mill it will be available in textured feed consisting of either flaked or chopped corn, plus WCS, pellet and molasses. Taltec can also be added if so desired. At all the other MFA feed mills we will be able to offer WCS in the pellet. Putting WCS in the pellet may create more fracture points thereby more broken pellets; however, with the nutritional and palatability advantage of WCS this should not be a problem.

WCS WORKS BEST
1. For herds fed in excess of 2 percent of their body weight as grain.
2. When corn makes up over 50 percent of the grain ration.
3. When feeding grain through the parlor.
4. For high producing dairy herds.
5. When forage is very good quality, such as alfalfa with RFV of 180 or higher and when cows are grazing lush grass.
6. When forage intake is low.
7. When displace abomasums are a problem.
8. When milk fat test is lower than breed average.

WHAT WCS WILL DO:
1. Raise fat test.
2. Increase milk production over the entire lactation.
3. Keep cows healthier, thereby reducing cull rates.
4. Improve body condition.
5. Make cows shine.
6. Decrease the amount of feed that can be consumed per minute.

WHAT WCS WON'T DO:
1. Increase the tank average immediately after you start feeding.
2. Lower tank average immediately after you quit using WCS.
3. Improve pellet quality.

MFA feeds can contain WCS with maximum effect. The feeds containing WCS will flow with less than 2 percent of the WCS passing out in the manure. It can be purchased in the textured feed form from Aurora Mill and in the pellet at the other MFA feed mills. All the benefits of WCS can be realized without the problem of flowing and handling.