Short answer: Whole cottonseed is a high-energy, high-protein feed that beef cattle can eat without any processing. Extension specialists generally cap it at about 0.5% of body weight per day for mature cows (roughly 5 to 6 pounds for a cow) and about 0.33% of body weight for weaned calves. The limits come from its high fat content and from gossypol, a natural compound in cottonseed. Don't feed it to calves before their rumen develops, and keep it away from bulls for 60 to 90 days before breeding season.
What whole cottonseed is
When a gin separates lint from seed, the seed comes out with short fibers still attached, which gives it a fuzzy look. That fuzzy seed is whole cottonseed. Alabama Cooperative Extension notes it's readily available at many gins and commodity feed suppliers in cotton-producing areas.
Two pounds of whole cottonseed roughly equal 1 pound of corn plus 1 pound of cottonseed meal in feeding value, according to Mississippi State University Extension.
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What it adds to a ration
Whole cottonseed brings energy, protein, fat and fiber in one feed. Here's how two extension sources describe it, on a dry matter basis:
| Nutrient | UF/IFAS (from NRC 2000) | Alabama Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Total digestible nutrients (TDN) | 90% | 96% |
| Crude protein | 28% | 24% |
| Crude fat | 22% | 17% |
| Crude fiber | 20% | 21% |
| Calcium | 0.2% | 0.16% |
| Phosphorus | 0.8% | 0.75% |
The high energy value comes mostly from the oil. UF/IFAS points out that these are average values and strongly suggests having your own source analyzed. Alabama Extension adds that seed quality varies with variety, heat damage in storage and weathering before harvest.
Whole cottonseed is low in calcium and relatively high in phosphorus, so Alabama Extension recommends cattle fed whole cottonseed have access to adequate mineral to balance the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
How much to feed, by class of cattle
The extension guidelines are close, but not identical. Here's what each says:
| Class of cattle | Guideline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mature cows | No more than 0.5% of body weight per day, about 5 to 6 lb per head | Mississippi State |
| Mature cows | No more than 0.5% of body weight; a 1,000-lb cow gets 5 lb | UF/IFAS |
| Mature cows | 0.5% of body weight; recommended range 6 to 8 lb per head per day | Alabama Extension |
| Weaned calves | No more than 0.33% of body weight, about 1.5 to 3 lb per head | Mississippi State |
| Stockers | About 0.33% of body weight; a 600-lb stocker gets no more than 2 lb | UF/IFAS |
| Stocker and finishing diets | No more than 20% of the diet | Mississippi State |
| All cattle | No more than 25% of total dry matter intake | Mississippi State |
| Mixed rations | No more than 15% of total ration dry matter, including hay and pasture | UF/IFAS |
| Pre-ruminant calves | Not recommended | Alabama Extension, UF/IFAS |
To use the body-weight rule, multiply weight by the percentage. A 1,200-pound cow at 0.5% is 6 pounds a day. A 500-pound calf at 0.33% is about 1.65 pounds.
Why the limit is mostly about fat
Alabama Extension says the feeding level for beef cattle is limited by fat more than any other factor. At 0.5% of body weight, fat stays below 4% of the total diet, which keeps the rumen working properly. Above that, excess fat can upset rumen function, and UF/IFAS warns that diarrhea may result.
Free-choice feeding doesn't work well. In a Georgia trial cited by Alabama Extension, mature cattle fed whole cottonseed free-choice ate anywhere from 4 to 11 pounds per head per day. Mississippi State says it must be hand-fed, not used in self-feeders.
Gossypol: who needs extra care
Gossypol is a natural compound in the cotton plant that protects it from insects. UF/IFAS explains that rumen microbes bind gossypol so cattle can't absorb much of it. That protection can break down at very high feeding levels.
Two groups need extra care:
- Young calves. UF/IFAS doesn't recommend whole cottonseed until calves have a well-developed rumen, usually after about four months of age. Calves won't eat enough from the cows' ration to cause a problem when lactating cows are fed at or below the recommended level.
- Bulls. Gossypol can cause a temporary drop in fertility when cottonseed is fed above recommended levels. The general recommendation from UF/IFAS and Mississippi State is no whole cottonseed for bulls 60 to 90 days before the breeding season. UF/IFAS also advises against feeding it to young growing bulls that will be sold for breeding. Feeding the cow herd while bulls are present is okay, UF/IFAS says, because any fertility decline takes months to develop.
Cotton type matters too. Alabama Extension notes that Pima cotton, grown mainly in Arizona, New Mexico and California, generally has more free gossypol than upland cotton. Upland makes up more than 95% of the U.S. crop. Mississippi State says the bull fertility concern may be smaller with upland cottonseed.
Handling and storage
Fuzzy whole cottonseed doesn't flow. Alabama Extension says it clogs V-shaped automatic feeders, augers and feed trucks, so front-end loaders or buckets work better. Mississippi State notes that EasiFlo cottonseed, lightly coated with cornstarch, flows and augers through ordinary grain equipment. Acid-delinted cottonseed is also available.
For storage:
- Keep it dry. UF/IFAS says moisture shouldn't exceed 14% for safe storage. Wet seed stacked high can combust spontaneously, and wet storage raises the risk of molds such as aflatoxins.
- Keep stacks low. Alabama Extension recommends stacks under 8 feet high on a concrete pad in an open-air barn. Storing on dirt or plastic can make the seed sweat.
- Watch for heat damage. Overheated seed loses feeding value and palatability, per UF/IFAS.
- Stored right, it keeps. Alabama Extension says whole cottonseed can last one to two years under dry conditions.
Before buying, UF/IFAS suggests cutting a few seeds open with a pocketknife and avoiding lots with many lightweight or hollow seeds.
Whole cottonseed vs cottonseed hulls vs gin trash
These three cotton byproducts get mixed up, but they play very different roles in a ration. Mississippi State's feedstuff tables put them side by side (dry matter basis):
| Feed | TDN | Crude protein | Crude fiber | Crude fat | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole cottonseed | 96% | 23% | 24% | 20% | Energy and protein supplement |
| Cottonseed hulls | 45% | 4.1% | 47.8% | 1.7% | Roughage, hay replacer |
| Cotton gin trash | 44% | 7.4% | 36.7% | 1.7% | Low-cost filler in hay-replacer diets |
Cottonseed hulls are very palatable and can serve as the only roughage in a diet. Mississippi State says hull feeding levels shouldn't exceed 10% to 25% of the diet for growing or finishing cattle. Gin trash is bulky, dusty, low in energy and not very palatable. Its composition depends on whether the cotton was picked or stripped, and buyers should watch for metal fragments.
For more on the gin side of these feeds, see Cotton Gin Byproducts for Animal Feed and Cotton Gin Residues as Cattle Feed: Benefits and Risks. Deer hunters can find a separate guide at Whole Cottonseed for Deer.
Buying whole cottonseed from a gin
In most cases the gin takes possession of the cottonseed it separates and either contracts it to a buyer or sells it on the open market, Farm Press reports. That's why many gins, along with feed and commodity dealers, can sell whole cottonseed locally during and after harvest. Prices and minimum loads vary by gin and season, so call ahead.
Find a gin near you:
- Cotton gins in Floyd County, Texas
- Cotton gins in Hale County, Texas
- Cotton gins in Lamb County, Texas
- Cotton gins in Parmer County, TX
- Cotton gins in the Texas Panhandle
- Cotton gins near Lubbock and the South Plains
Cotton markets, every trading day. Cottonseed comes from the same crop that drives the cotton market. The Cotton Wire covers that market every trading day. Subscribe to The Cotton Wire
FAQ
How much whole cottonseed can I feed a cow per day?
Extension guidelines cap mature cows at about 0.5% of body weight per day. That's about 5 pounds for a 1,000-pound cow or 6 pounds for a 1,200-pound cow. Alabama Extension gives a range of 6 to 8 pounds per head for mature cows.
Can calves eat whole cottonseed?
Weaned calves can, at up to about 0.33% of body weight per day. It isn't recommended for pre-ruminant calves. UF/IFAS says to wait until the rumen is well developed, usually after about four months of age.
Is whole cottonseed safe for bulls?
At recommended levels, fertility problems shouldn't be a concern, according to UF/IFAS. As a precaution, don't feed whole cottonseed to bulls 60 to 90 days before the breeding season or to young bulls being sold for breeding.
Can I put whole cottonseed in a self-feeder?
No. Mississippi State says it must be hand-fed. Fuzzy cottonseed also doesn't flow well through bins and augers, and cattle given free access eat very uneven amounts.
What's the difference between whole cottonseed and cottonseed hulls?
Whole cottonseed is an energy and protein supplement. Hulls are the outer seed coat, low in energy and protein and high in fiber, used as roughage or a hay replacer.
How should whole cottonseed be stored?
Under a roof, off dirt, in stacks under 8 feet, at no more than 14% moisture. Stored dry, it can keep one to two years.
Sources
- Myer, R., and M. Hersom. Whole Cottonseed for Beef Cattle Rations (AN134). UF/IFAS Extension: composition table (from NRC 2000), feeding limits, storage moisture, seed soundness, bull cautions. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AN134
- Myer, R., and M. Hersom. Potential for Gossypol Toxicity When Feeding Whole Cottonseed to Beef Cattle (AN130). UF/IFAS Extension: how the rumen handles gossypol, calf age, bull fertility timing. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AN130
- Parish, J. A., B. B. Karisch, and J. D. Rivera. Feedstuffs for Beef Cattle (Publication 2834). Mississippi State University Extension: whole cottonseed limits, hand-feeding, EasiFlo, cottonseed hulls, gin trash, nutrient tables. https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/feedstuffs-for-beef-cattle
- Jacobs, L., K. Mullenix, and S. Brown. Whole Cottonseed Use in Beef Cattle Diets (ANR-2608). Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Dec. 6, 2019: nutritive value, fat limits, free-choice intake trial, gossypol and cotton type, handling and storage. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/beef/whole-cottonseed-use-in-beef-cattle-diets/
- Shannon, W. "Cottonseed: What do cotton and milk have in common?" Farm Press, Dec. 6, 2024: how gins take possession of and market cottonseed. https://www.farmprogress.com/cotton/cottonseed-what-do-cotton-and-milk-have-in-common-
