The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-12-02
Will Pay to Feed Cottonseed
Meal at High Prices if
Silage is Used


cottonseed meal it will be found pro-
htable to feed to cattle when siIage is
used as q part of the ration. according
to j. H. Mcleod. assistant livestock
specialist, Division of Extension, How
ever, ne states. If no silage is used and
clrn and clover hay are the principal
feeds, then it is doubtful IL the addi-
tion OF cottonseed meal at a cost Of
about $500 would pay.
Mr., McLeOd's statement as to the
use OF cottonseed meal is here given in
full and will no doubt be Of interest to
farmers and feeders throughout the
state;
No doubt there is a number of cattle
feeders in the state wondering il with
present price of cheap corn whether it
would pay them to purchase aon
cottonseed meal to feed with grain. Tt
IS recognized fact that cottonseed
meal at present is selling high in pro
portion to the price of col q. Orginarily.
1t may be figured that one pound of
eottonseed meal is-eqnsl to two pounds
OF corn for cattle feeding. Figuring
from this basis. with cora at so cents
per bushel, cottonseed meal would be
worth in feeding value $500 ptr ton.
In most places find Al percent me a,
in carload lots selling around $42, 90 per
ton, some places little more in price
and some little less.
But the question is will it pay TO
fee d this $420C cottonseed meal az
supplement to so cent corn This will
largely depend upon the kind ofirough-
age which the feeder has at ais dis
posa. Silage always combines best
with some protein concentrate.like cot
tonseed meal. Even Though leguI- in
ous hay like .clover may be added to
ration 1t has been found the cattle will
not consume enough OF the hay to
balance the carbohydrates in the silsge.
Even with the high price of meal today
il wi be found profitable to feed some
meal when slage is used as part of tie
ration. IL for example the ration is COM
posed of cofD. silsge and clover hsy,the ad
dltion of ~ pounds of cottonseed meal
to the 1000 pounds live weight of the
steer would not only cause the animal
to gain more rapidly but would also
live him ketter finish, higher selling
va1ue upln The market aud q greater
profit to the owner.
II on the other hand q feeder. farmer
does not have corn silsge. but derend-
cd upon corn and clover hay as fat
t, ming ration It is doubtful IL the ad,
dition OF $4,000 cottonseeed meal would
pay. Corn and clover hay come near
making a balanced ration, Several Of
the exp, riment stations have made q
comparison of the corn, clover ration
with the corn, clover and cottonsee d
meal rations. It was found that for
each 100 pounds of gain that put on the
steers receiving the former ration that
it took $40 pounds of corn and 484
pounds Of clover hay. For the later
ration for each 100 pounds of gain it
took 737 pounds of corn and l20 pounds
cottonseed meal and 376 pounds of clover
hay. By applying present day prices
to these figures one will find that there
is no saving made pei 100 pounds gain
By the use of cotto1seed meal. In fact
there will be slight reduction 10 cost
of 100 pounds gain by the elimination
of the meal.
Ina case where feeder was short Of
corn it might be fcuod profitable to feed
cottonseed meal ss a part Of the rstioo,
the latter pat OF the fes ding period.
AZ steers pear the finishing point the
amount Of hay they win 'corsume win
become less. This has tendency to
make an unbalanced ratien II cotton
seed meal is to.be added at this tims
under this condities mentioned may be
profitable. Bot under the present price
Of corn and cottonseed meal 1t will u.s.
ually be found just as profitable in corn
and clover ration to leave off the COT
tonseed meal.