Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-25
Cotton Seed Coming North.
[Iowa Homstead.]


Owing to the feed situation there
seems to be an unusual amount of cot
ton seed meal being shipped from the
south to northern farms. Where the
price is satisfactory there is no doubt
but that cotton seed meal may be used
for feeding some classes of stock on
the farm with success, but it is nee
essary to remember that 1T is exceed
ingly dangerous to feed it to hogs, nor
lis it safe food for calves Cotton
seed meal is shown by analysis to be
richer in protein than any other feed
stuff on the market, ranking above
linseed meal and all the farm grains
in this particular. Consequently 1t is
valuable for feeding some classes OF
stock where the balance of the ration
consists chiefly of corn. 1t has been
found useful in making ration par
ticularly for beef cattle. There seems
to be no danger in feeding it to them,
If the quantity does not exceed all
bounds of reason. 1t is generally con-
sidered that from four to eight pounds
would be sufficient in any ration for
steers or for beef stock when used In
conjunction with corn. Being very rich
in protein, it balances the corn well,
which contains very little of this nu-
TRENT but is very rich in fat and car
bohydrates 1t has been found thru
the work of the experimental stations
that it may be added with benefit to
a ration for dairy cattle. 1t seems
more satisfactory for this purpose than
bran, for at the Pennsylvania station
it was found that the milk flow was
,1N-fi f1tti mo n
equal weight of cotton seed meal for
bran. AS compared with oil meal no
substantial difference could be obtained
in the results from feeding these two
concentrated feeds in conjunction with
others. These facts show that cotton
seed meal has a high place in ra-
ton for dairy cattle, because 1t is not
only favorable to large flow. but 1t
also seems to have peculiar effect
on the fat, which is so affected as to
result in a firmer butter. In feeding
cattle no danger has resulted from 1t
unless excessive quantities have been
used Professor Henry refers to this in
his work on Feeds and Feeding. US
ing the term fat sickness" to designate
this peculiar disease which springs
from feeding too much cotton seed
meal especially when 1T is damaged.
The disease begins with inflammation
of the eyes, which may ultimately re-
suit in total loss of sight. 1t is gen
orally thought that the trouble is due
to feeding meal that has been dam
aged In some way, as we'll as using
1t in too large quantities 1t is very
heavy food and should be lightened
up with something that has the OPP
posite physical effect.
So many cases have been reported
of deaths of pigs, hogs and calves that
1t is fair to say 1t is unsafe to use
as food for these. Experiments along
this line have been made with it and
frequent deaths have always followed
its extensive use for calves and pigs
The poisonous principle seems to be
in the husk, for the oil which is pressed
out has never been found to have an
effect of this kind. 1t is very impor-
tant to use only meal that is fresh,
with the characteristic bright yellow
color. When in this condition 1t has an
agreeable taste and rather pleasant
olor. When it is old or damaged in
some way it becomes a dark red and
has musty odor, with a disagreeable
taste, and in such cases it should not
he used for any class of stock.