The Use of Cottonseed Meal to Increase the Percentage of Fat in Milk

Abstract

From the work reported here the following deductions are probably justified:1.The substitution of cottonseed meal for old-process linseed oil meal and bran in the ration of milk cows produces no marked change in the percentage of fat in milk.2.The replacing of cracked corn with cottonseed meal under similar conditions, and in even limited amounts, tends to cause an increase in the fat content of milk.3.All cows are not uniform in their reaction towards cottonseed meal.4.In some cases a limited amount of cottonseed meal introduced suddenly into the ration will cause cows to lose appetite, to be subject to digestive disturbances and to decrease markedly in milk production. The large decrease in milk production will be accompanied by a high butterfat content.5.Increases in butterfat content due to sudden administration of cottonseed meal take place in a comparatively short time and are not of long duration.6.The readministration of cottonseed meal, before the cows have had time to recover from the effects produced during the first administration, tends to decrease rather than increase the fat content of the milk.7.The effects produced by the cottonseed meal are probably due to some stimulating effect of the protein, either on general metabolism or on the activity of the mammary gland, which is not as yet completely understood.