Protein/Cotton

[sotx]

For last 10 years have been feeding protein as well as cotton. Thinking of doing away with protein and just go straight cotton. What do you guys think, the good the bad.

[elgato]

Why? Protein offers more advantages than cotton

[Barney1971]

Originally Posted by sotx

For last 10 years have been feeding protein as well as cotton. Thinking of doing away with protein and just go straight cotton. What do you guys think, the good the bad.

smart move actually... protein prices seem to have gone up again in the last few weeks. i personally am familiar with and have hunted on a ranch outside of encinal that grows 200+ inch deer every year and there is not one corn feeder or protein feeder on the whole 6000 acres- they just feed cottonseed continuously.

[sotx]

My main problem is getting 40,000 lbs worth of feeders filled every month.


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[RanchFrag]

Originally Posted by sotx

For last 10 years have been feeding protein as well as cotton. Thinking of doing away with protein and just go straight cotton. What do you guys think, the good the bad.

Here is a very good and informative video. Pay attention to Gary Holcomb and John Sewell's comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8tpo2o3S5E

[160class]

I know of a place out of Freer that all they feed is cottonseed and it produces some great deer.

But to your point of 40,000 lbs a month, thats only having to do 4 loads a month, that isn't bad at all!

[Jags26]

Great video. Thank you for posting that.

[Czechfish]

I just put ours out Sunday and Monday. Up a little from last time. $170 per 1000

[sotx]

Originally Posted by 160class

But to your point of 40,000 lbs a month, thats only having to do 4 loads a month, that isn't bad at all!

Can you elaborate?

[160class]

I saw you have a feed wagon, I assumed it was a 10K which is only 4 loads a month with that, I was just being a smart***, I feel the pain of keeping feeders full, we had 75+ of them to keep full on the Catarina place I was on

[RanchFrag]

Originally Posted by Jags26

Great video. Thank you for posting that.

Not a problem. It's worth mentioning that the same feed company has just developed and release a cottonseed designed specifically for deer. All 3 options have color coordinated bags. Plain whole cottonseed is Orange, Fortified Cottonseed is Red, and Fortified Deer Blend Cottonseed is Yellow. They are claiming a single deer will consume 1/2 to 2 pounds per day.

[sotx]

Originally Posted by 160class

I saw you have a feed wagon, I assumed it was a 10K which is only 4 loads a month with that, I was just being a smart***, I feel the pain of keeping feeders full, we had 75+ of them to keep full on the Catarina place I was on

Lmao yes if only I had a silo I'd be set.


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[bbqfan5909]

When cotton seed was $160 a ton delivered, was worth the added effort to scope it into baskets. Don’t see the cost advantage now, so we run pellets.

[160class]

Originally Posted by sotx

Lmao yes if only I had a silo I'd be set.


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Yes that makes a huge difference, if you do get one, do gravity fed, it’ll fill a 10K buggy in about 45-60 seconds. It’s also helps if you have 2 buggy’s and 2 crews getting it and each doing 3-4 loads a day ha my dad handles all of them on his own (working full time on the ranch) the last couple of years

[Duckhead78]

Originally Posted by RanchFrag

Here is a very good and informative video. Pay attention to Gary Holcomb and John Sewell's comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8tpo2o3S5E

I came across this video a few days ago when researching about cottonseed. My local TS store has it for about $16 a 50# bag. I'm thinking about buying a few bags just to see if the deer will eat it.

[Bureau2]

Cotton seed works great. Thanks for the video.

[deerwatcher51]

I feed nothing but cottonseed from about Jan 1st until the middle of March and then I feed both cottonseed and pellets. I’m feeding only cottonseed durning that time mainly for the fat content.

[DEADEYE1]

Originally Posted by sotx

Lmao yes if only I had a silo I'd be set.


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Get a silo, they are worth their weight in gold!!! If you need someone I can direct you to a guy that makes them and is the cheapest I have found and they are well built. Have several buddies with them!! DM if you are interested.

[PROD49]

I switched to Fortified Cottonseed. Vert vert little waste as compared to protein. Coons don't eat it, doesn't go bad when it rains, pigs don't eat it either.

[DEADEYE1]

Originally Posted by PROD49

I switched to Fortified Cottonseed. Vert vert little waste as compared to protein. Coons don't eat it, doesn't go bad when it rains, pigs don't eat it either.

Pigs will eat it, at least mine did. They chew it up and spit it out and it looks like wet saw dust all over the ground. I got pics of them eating it all last year!!!!

[DEADEYE1]

I'm feeding Protein with just the cottonseed in the protein and its delinted. WIn WIN, I don't have to fill my baskets up anymore. I do have some cottonseed out now in baskets but its because my cousin picked up some for me a month or so ago!!!!!

[Dusty8186]

The video says they're feeding 365. I thought I heard it will make the bucks sterile if they are feeding on it during the Rut. Did I imagine that?

[PROD49]

Originally Posted by Dusty8186

The video says they're feeding 365. I thought I heard it will make the bucks sterile if they are feeding on it during the Rut. Did I imagine that?

This is a perpetual statement that never seems to die even though it has been disproven many many times.

[sotx]

Originally Posted by DEADEYE1

Get a silo, they are worth their weight in gold!!! If you need someone I can direct you to a guy that makes them and is the cheapest I have found and they are well built. Have several buddies with them!! DM if you are interested.

I will do that for sure if I can convince our lease boss. Thanks for the info.

[sotx]

Originally Posted by PROD49

This is a perpetual statement that never seems to die even though it has been disproven many many times.

You are absolutely right. Its unreal how the mere mention of cotton to someone and they immediately claim the sterilization falsehood. SMH

[DEADEYE1]

Originally Posted by sotx

I will do that for sure if I can convince our lease boss. Thanks for the info.

If you are feeding that much protein the cost of a silo is a no brainer!! buy the protein with the cottonseed mix like me and its the best of both worlds!!!!

good luck!!!!!

[stx]

I would think the amount of cottonseed they would consume would replace the protein to an extent. To me putting cottonseed out is much harder and more labor intensive. I think you are better off sticking with both. I feel like more deer get to eat at a feed pen when you have both out. If you have a protein feeder in a pen you’re likely only feeding a couple deer at a time. I have a protein feeder and 2-3 cottonseed baskets in a pen and 10-12 deer can feed at the same time comfortably.

[Alemana]

Originally Posted by DEADEYE1

I'm feeding Protein with just the cottonseed in the protein and its delinted. WIn WIN, I don't have to fill my baskets up anymore. I do have some cottonseed out now in baskets but its because my cousin picked up some for me a month or so ago!!!!!

What product is that and where are you getting it from? Any clogs in a gravity fed feeder?

[sotx]

Originally Posted by stx

I would think the amount of cottonseed they would consume would replace the protein to an extent. To me putting cottonseed out is much harder and more labor intensive. I think you are better off sticking with both. I feel like more deer get to eat at a feed pen when you have both out. If you have a protein feeder in a pen you’re likely only feeding a couple deer at a time. I have a protein feeder and 2-3 cottonseed baskets in a pen and 10-12 deer can feed at the same time comfortably.

Well what you have is what I have, however I cannot keep the cows from destroying my pens to get to the protein feeders.

[jason86]

Originally Posted by sotx

Well what you have is what I have, however I cannot keep the cows from destroying my pens to get to the protein feeders.

Cows jump out pens to get to CS

[dogcatcher]

Cotton seed is 24% protein, gin trash is about 11% protein. Gin trash is also used in cattle feed. Years ago gin trash was burned, that was stopped by EPA rules. Now they dump it on the ground, sort of like mulch, feed cattle, etc.. Had some dumped on some of our property once, I saw the deer eating at the pile of gin trash. We mixed a little corn, and they were there eating more.

What do Texas cotton gins do with gin trash?
file:///C:/Users/MHasenak/Downloads/62-Article%20Text-106-1-10-20160413.pdf

What is the make up of gin trash?
http://cotton.tamu.edu/General%20Pro...B%201311_2.pdf

[DEADEYE1]

Originally Posted by Alemana

What product is that and where are you getting it from? Any clogs in a gravity fed feeder?

I get it from Lyssy & Eckel
Have to order a 6 ton min for them to make it I think.

[stx]

Originally Posted by sotx

Well what you have is what I have, however I cannot keep the cows from destroying my pens to get to the protein feeders.

Most pens are 4 strand barb wire with the bottom wire 18 inches to 2 feet off the ground. using old telephone poles for the corners and gate. Have also used hog panel wired up the same off the ground if the wire gets loose and cows start tearing it up.

[LuckyCards2006]

Originally Posted by elgato

Why? Protein offers more advantages than cotton

This!!