Instructions
Secure a good quality source of cotton burrs. Find out what sprays have been used on the cotton. Some chemicals used in cotton production are not suitable for feeding to cattle.
Prepare a feed plan for your beef cattle. Cottonseed burrs are low in protein, so it is important that the cattle get a balanced diet. Dietary requirements differ for cattle according to life stage. A calf will not have the same needs as a nursing cow.
Introduce cottonseed hulls gradually to the diet with normal rations. According to the University of Georgia, hulls can make up 25 to 50 percent of the diet, while Florida University more conservatively states the hulls should make up 10 to 25 percent of the total diet. Amounts vary depending on factors such as the performance level you desire and the life stage of your cattle.
Supplement diets containing cotton burrs with vitamins and minerals to help ensure a balanced diet.
How to Feed Cotton Burrs To Beef Cattle
Feeding cotton burrs, the hull or boll that holds the cotton to the plant, to beef cattle is popular mainly in areas where cattle and cotton are raised close together. Often cotton burrs can be obtained free, but they are bulky and therefore costly to ship. However, if you're able to acquire cottonseed burrs, the University of Florida explains that they are a highly palatable source of roughage for cattle. When you have brought a shipment of hulls home, they need to be kept dry to prevent them from becoming unpalatable or moldy.