The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-03-23
FEEDING DAIRY COWS
Test Proves Great Value of Cot
tonseed Meal.
Georgia College Establishes Efficiency
Of This Product in Securing Lar9.
er Production Of Milk at
Less Cost.

Literature has recently been distrib-
uted giving the results OF experiments
with cottonseed meal as feed for
dairy cows on the college farm at
Athens, Ga. One of the bulletins in
substance says that the efficiency Of
cottonseed meal as feed for dairy
cows has been established beyond
question The best results are OBJ
tanned when cows are fed with meal
during the pasture season, or when
winter grazing crops are provided. 1t
IL better when feeding silage and cot
tonseed meal to cows to feed little
roughness also. For this purpose cot
tonseed hulls in quantities Of five to
ten pounds per head per day are ex-
cellent.
In tests made at the farm by Prof.
A. M. Soule the cows were divided
Into groups Of four each. The first
group was fed cottonseed meal six
pounds, silage thirty pounds and corn
slower six pounds. The second group
was given cottonseed meal four
POUNDS, Dran Your pounds. silage thfr-
ty pounds and stover six pounds.
The third group received: Bran ten
pounds. silage thirty pounds and sto-
yer five pounds.
The first group made gallon Of
milk at cost Of 5.97 cents, the sec
ond group at a cost Of rs cents and
the third group at cost Of 1907
cents. The cost OF the feed per COW
per day was IL cents for tho first
group. Is cents for the second group
and 1919 cents for the third. These
figures certainly show that at the
prices prevailing for feed when these
clearly outclasses wheat bran as a
source Of protein for dairy cows. In
these tests the cottonseed meal was
charged at $3.50 ton and the wheat
bran at $50 ton. The same relative
figures apply to these two seeds today
Professor Soule said: Having fed
cottonseed meal as the principal con-
centrate to dairy cows for many years,
1t would appear. that its use in the
quantities indicated resulted not only
In the production of milk at mod
crate cost. but it has not impaired
the health or longevity Of the cows
receiving 1t. In my own experience
cottonseed meal has been fed in op-
position to cornmeal, corn and cob
meal. chopped sowpea hay, alfalfa hay.
beet pulp and wheat bran. In every
instance 1t has proved the cheapest
source Of protein and the most desir
able concentrate to feed to dairy cows.
Some have experienced dissatis-
faction from the use of cottonseed
meal, but such persons have in most
instances fed it in too large quantities,
or have not provided any succulent
food for the ration, such az silage or
good pasture may be made to furnish.
Persons who simply feed cottonseed
meal at random will not secure good
results from its use. It should be fed
to the weight and size Of
the animal and the quantity Of milk
she IL giving. 1t is simple matter
to buy pair Of scales and properly
this work quickly and economically.
The overlooking Of cottonseed meal,
like any other concentrate. Is likely to
produce digestive disorders, and may
even produce arrangement Of the
nervous system. This is only what
may be expected from careless feed
ing. But those having trouble Of this
kind should attribute it to the proper
source and not charge it up to the
meal. Dairy industries can be con-
Quoted as successfully in the south as
elsewhere. Protein is one Of the cost
ly elements In the ration Of dairy
COW. Cottonseed meal furnishes it in
and at relatively low
cos"