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When to and not to feed cottonseed??
#9040207
04/29/24 06:19 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 485
Hunter Daddy
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 485 |
I have heard from biologists that cottonseed should not be fed to the bucks during the hunting season (October through January) because it will sterilize the bucks causing them to be infertile. It should be fed from February till September. Its supposed to take 6 to 8 weeks to get the chemical in cottonseed "released" from the deers blood stream where they will be "fertile" again. Has anyone seen this to be true with their fawn production with a high cottonseed feeding program?
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040209
04/29/24 06:27 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,657
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,657 |
I have heard from biologists that cottonseed should not be fed to the bucks during the hunting season (October through January) because it will sterilize the bucks causing them to be infertile. It should be fed from February till September. Its supposed to take 6 to 8 weeks to get the chemical in cottonseed "released" from the deers blood stream where they will be "fertile" again. Has anyone seen this to be true with their fawn production with a high cottonseed feeding program? ask you biologist to show you the livestock sterilization study and then ask him what the daily intake would have to be for a whitetail buck. In nutshell you would have to pen them, and only feed them cotton seed for months and then you might have some % of sterilization in herd. Other words Feed on. The biggest deterrent to feeding cotton seed in season would have more todo with feed choice and nocturnal use verse feeder timed
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040223
04/29/24 06:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,348
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,348 |
Your biologist is overread and overblown. You ain't gonna hurt no white tail deer heard with the amounts you are going to feed. Me neither and I'll bet we feed more than youa re considering or willing to provide. Love me my cottonseed.
I quit feeding it when I no longer desire free choice to be available.
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040849
04/30/24 09:37 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,116
tlk
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,116 |
We started cottonseed some years back. Has been a great addition - the overall weight of our deer increased - zero issues with it. We stop during the season (as well as protein) and then start back up in January. It sure seems to help the bucks regain their weight after the rut
You can't fix stupid
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040895
05/01/24 12:00 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,250
Tbar
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,250 |
We fed cotton seed.....really puts the fat on. Stop feeding during the season.
Make America Great Again
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040953
05/01/24 01:39 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,084
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,084 |
I fed it last year for the first time. The deer really took to it especially the bucks. They continued to hit it solidly until October but not so much after that. Now we have the doe hitting it but not like last year. Someone on here posted as to how the deer are going to hit the grass and browse when it is green and plentiful which it is at our lease. I think BOBO is right it would take an awful lot to have the sterilization effect..
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9040955
05/01/24 01:40 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,084
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,084 |
I fed it last year for the first time. The deer really took to it especially the bucks. They continued to hit it solidly until October but not so much after that. Now we have the doe hitting it but not like last year. Someone on here posted as to how the deer are going to hit the grass and browse when it is green and plentiful which it is at our lease. I think BOBO is right it would take an awful lot to have the sterilization effect..
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#9040978
05/01/24 02:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 430
rmp
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 430 |
I have heard from biologists that cottonseed should not be fed to the bucks during the hunting season (October through January) because it will sterilize the bucks causing them to be infertile. It should be fed from February till September. Its supposed to take 6 to 8 weeks to get the chemical in cottonseed "released" from the deers blood stream where they will be "fertile" again. Has anyone seen this to be true with their fawn production with a high cottonseed feeding program? ask you biologist to show you the livestock sterilization study and then ask him what the daily intake would have to be for a whitetail buck. In nutshell you would have to pen them, and only feed them cotton seed for months and then you might have some % of sterilization in herd. Other words Feed on. The biggest deterrent to feeding cotton seed in season would have more todo with feed choice and nocturnal use verse feeder timed Correct BOBO! Also where the cotton was grown, under what conditions grown, and what type of seed will factor into the equation. But, to back up BOBO, cottonseed will not sterilize your bucks. Yes we have been heavily feeding cottonseed for years.
Jameson Peak Ranch Trophy Whitetails "Lets go hunt a BIG one."
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9041064
05/01/24 12:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 247
TXHunter0619
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 247 |
Fwiw I recently met a deer biologist and he regularly feeds cottonseed on his family ranch.
tough times don't last, tough people do
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9041073
05/01/24 01:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,311
BenBob
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,311 |
Cottonseed is regularly fed to domestic stock in one form or another. Does the sterilization factor exist in this situation, I wonder?
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9042042
05/03/24 01:29 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 373
eyedoc
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 373 |
We fed year round for 15 years (40-60 tons/yr) never had any problems, as with protein, thry walk in get a few bites and then go out and forage, from reading the old studies - they needed 90%+ of their diet to sterilize, not gonna happen unless in a pen IMO, we kept it out year round for years and always had a healthy fawn crop the next season, have dealt w biologists for years on MLD in the sand dunes, most are clueless, its a shame
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: BenBob]
#9045114
05/09/24 04:56 PM
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 75
8skate
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 75 |
Had Brahman bulls we had raised when we had them semen tested if I remember correctly 4 out of 5 bulls had low semen count. Vet asked if we had cotton seed in their ration and we did. Told us to change feed and retest in 6 to 8 weeks. Did as he said, and they were hot as a pistol. No expert but agree deer would not get enough to affect them and it will not sterilize them but cause temporary low semen count if on a high ration.
Last edited by 8skate; 05/09/24 04:57 PM.
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Re: When to and not to feed cottonseed??
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#9049657
7 hours ago
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 100
Stohner
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 100 |
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