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Gin Trash and Peanut Hulls Possible Feedstuffs for Cattle

published: September 23rd 2008
source: Beef Cattle Browsing

As prices of most feedstuffs have increased dramatically, producers search for
lower-cost materials. Auburn University researchers compared cotton gin trash and
peanut hulls. Steers of Angus X Continental breeding initially weighing 513 lb were
fed for 112 days either:

-45% peanut hulls + 55% cracked corn
-45% peanut hulls + 47% cracked corn + 8% cottonseed meal
-45% gin trash + 55% cracked corn
-45% gin trash + 47% cracked corn + 8% cottonseed meal

Steers on gin trash ate significantly more (22.7 lb/day vs 16.7 lb/day) and gained
significantly faster (2.6 lb/day vs 2.2 lb/day). Addition of cottonseed meal
increased both consumption (21.3 lb/day vs 18.3 lb/day) and ADG (2.5 lb/day vs 2.2
lb/day). The authors noted that gin trash can vary greatly in nutritional content
depending on cotton variety, method of harvest, and region. In particular, trash
from stripper-harvested cotton grown on sandy soils can be especially high in ash.
Also, since much gin trash contains more than 11% CP, protein supplementation may
not be necessary in some cases. (Prof. Anim. Sci. 24:40)