Some dairymen use cottonseed hulls as the major fiber source in the ration. Corn silage and alfalfa hay continue to grow as a major forage feedstuff in dairy cattle rations. Feeding and management systems used in Florida frequently differ from those observed in other areas of the country due to herd size, available feedstuffs and environmental conditions. With the concentration of more cattle on fewer farms, dairymen are encouraged to group or phase feed their cows according to production or stage of lactation. The mixer wagon is used in many Florida herds to mix and distribute feed to groups of cows.
Most dairymen feed little to no feed in the parlor.
A large majority of the dairies use complete feeds or total mixed rations containing cottonseed hulls or combinations of ground hay and silage. The variation in feedstuffs used in principally due to herd size, labor situation, land availability and preference. The cottonseed hulls are mixed with the concentrate feedstuffs to form a semicomplete feed since some hay is usually available. Feedstuffs used primarily as energy sources include corn, citrus pulp, wheat midds, molasses soybean hulls and hominy feed. Medium protein feedstuffs presently popular in Florida are whole cottonseed, distillers grains and wet brewers.