Whole Cotton Seed

Whole cottonseed is high in protein, fat, fiber and energy. This combination of nutrients in one feedstuff is unusual. Whole cottonseed with the lint still attached is white and fuzzy in appearance. It sometimes is called “fuzzy seed,” and has the analysis shown below. Whole cottonseed from which the lint has been removed is called delinted seed, is black and smooth in appearance, and tends to be slightly higher in protein and fat than the fuzzy seed.

Research at the Universities of California and Pennsylvania has shown that feeding whole cottonseed to milking cows can stimulate higher milk fat test and help maintain milk persistency. It should be fed at the rate of 4 to 7 pounds (1.8 to 3.1 kg) per cow per day. Mechanically delinted seed has the same effect as fuzzy seed.

Whole cottonseeds do not need to be crushed or processed in any way before feeding.