WEBVTT 00:00:10.549 --> 00:00:13.949 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. Today we're 00:00:13.949 --> 00:00:16.170 trying something new. Instead of our regular 00:00:16.170 --> 00:00:18.929 hosts, Douglas and Bella, we're featuring an 00:00:18.929 --> 00:00:21.989 experimental episode. We're excited to showcase 00:00:21.989 --> 00:00:24.390 this new approach and would love your feedback. 00:00:24.850 --> 00:00:27.030 Hey everyone and welcome back to the Bullvine. 00:00:27.449 --> 00:00:29.629 Today, we're diving deep into a feed ingredient 00:00:29.629 --> 00:00:32.070 that could be a real game changer. I'm talking 00:00:32.070 --> 00:00:33.990 about boosting your milk check profitability 00:00:33.990 --> 00:00:38.829 by as much as 15%. Wow, 15%, that's significant. 00:00:39.229 --> 00:00:41.049 Yeah, and it's all thanks to a feed you might 00:00:41.049 --> 00:00:44.409 not expect, whole cottonseed. Or WCS, as you'll 00:00:44.409 --> 00:00:46.710 hear us call it. Now, I bet some of you are thinking, 00:00:46.829 --> 00:00:49.530 hold on, isn't cottonseed risky? You know, you've 00:00:49.530 --> 00:00:52.369 heard things, maybe some rumors. Right. There 00:00:52.369 --> 00:00:55.250 are those concerns about gossy pole, plus the 00:00:55.250 --> 00:00:59.020 whole hassle of storing and handling it. Is it 00:00:59.020 --> 00:01:00.740 really worth it? It's definitely been a topic 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:02.960 of conversation, that's for sure. Exactly. But 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:04.579 that's why we're doing this deep dive here on 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:06.260 The Bullvine to cut through all that chatter 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:08.780 and get to the hard facts. We want to look at 00:01:08.780 --> 00:01:11.159 the science, the real world results, and see 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:14.319 if WCS can truly live up to the hype. Especially 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:17.260 now in 2025, with milk prices hovering around 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:20.200 that $18 per hundred weight mark, every penny 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.700 counts. You've got to be sharp with your financials, 00:01:22.700 --> 00:01:24.719 and that means looking at all your options, even 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:26.780 those you might have dismissed before. So we're 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:29.019 going to find out if whole cottonseed could be 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:31.640 your secret weapon, especially for boosting those 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:34.379 all -important milk components like fat. For 00:01:34.379 --> 00:01:36.439 this deep dive, we've got some fresh research 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:38.640 hot off the press from the Journal of Dairy Science, 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:41.739 and we'll be looking closely at a 2025 trial 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:43.840 from the University of Minnesota. We're going 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.719 to break it all down, the costs, the benefits, 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:48.340 the practical steps. By the end of this, you'll 00:01:48.340 --> 00:01:50.920 know if WCS is right for your operation. Sounds 00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:53.879 good to me. Let's get into it. Okay, so first 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.340 things first. Here at The Bullvine, we've been 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:58.939 seeing a lot of buzz about what some are calling 00:01:58.939 --> 00:02:03.200 a whole -clotten -seat renaissance. Why is WCS 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.359 suddenly getting so much attention now? in 2025. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.319 Well, like we said, milk prices aren't exactly 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:12.120 soaring, right? Margins are thin, and that's 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:14.439 putting pressure on every single input on the 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.500 farm. Producers are really scrutinizing their 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:18.340 feed costs, trying to optimize wherever they 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:20.319 can. Exactly. And they're starting to rethink 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:22.360 ingredients that maybe weren't on their radar 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:24.099 before. Kind of like, hey, let's take another 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:26.259 look at this WCS thing. Maybe it's not so bad 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:28.900 after all. Right, and this is where that 2025 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:32.300 University of Minnesota trial comes in. It provided 00:02:32.300 --> 00:02:35.539 some really solid evidence that not only is WCS 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:38.819 safe at a 15 % inclusion rate, which, let's be 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:40.699 honest, was a big concern for a lot of folks. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:42.919 Yeah, the gossy poll thing had everyone spooked. 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:45.500 But this trial went further. They actually showed 00:02:45.500 --> 00:02:48.560 that WCS has the potential to significantly boost 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:51.639 profitability. Real numbers, not just speculation. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:53.979 Speaking of real numbers, we've got a great example 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:56.400 featured on The Bullvine, the story of Schlitzer 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.960 Dairy in Wisconsin. They made a simple switch, 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:02.099 swapped out five pounds of soybean meal for WCS 00:03:02.099 --> 00:03:04.530 and their cow's diet. And what happened? Their 00:03:04.530 --> 00:03:07.150 milk fat jumped up by 0 .3 percentage points. 00:03:07.330 --> 00:03:09.349 Which doesn't sound like much, but for an 800 00:03:09.349 --> 00:03:12.069 cow herd, that translated to an extra $1 ,200 00:03:12.069 --> 00:03:15.030 in revenue per day. Every single day. Talk about 00:03:15.030 --> 00:03:17.750 impact. So yeah, WCS has real potential. But 00:03:17.750 --> 00:03:19.710 you've been careful to say it's not a magic bullet, 00:03:19.750 --> 00:03:21.650 more like a precision tool. What do you mean 00:03:21.650 --> 00:03:24.229 by that? I mean, you can't just throw WCS into 00:03:24.229 --> 00:03:26.870 the mix and expect miracles. You need to be strategic 00:03:26.870 --> 00:03:29.479 about it. It's not a one size fits all solution. 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:31.280 You have to understand how it sits into your 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.000 overall feeding program. And how it impacts your 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.199 milk components, particularly fat. That's crucial. 00:03:37.500 --> 00:03:39.599 So let's talk about that focus on milk components, 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:42.719 especially fat. Why is it so crucial right now? 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:44.599 We touched on the economics, but there's more 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:46.900 to it, isn't there? Oh, absolutely. With the 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:50.919 rise of value -based pricing systems, the components 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.710 in your milk They're like gold. It's not just 00:03:53.710 --> 00:03:55.909 about the quantity of milk anymore, but the quality. 00:03:56.169 --> 00:03:59.129 Exactly. And milk fat is often the most valuable 00:03:59.129 --> 00:04:01.990 component. If you can increase your fat content, 00:04:02.189 --> 00:04:04.590 you can significantly increase your pay price. 00:04:04.870 --> 00:04:07.490 So any feed ingredient that can reliably and 00:04:07.490 --> 00:04:10.669 cost -effectively boost milk fat is a huge advantage. 00:04:11.069 --> 00:04:14.189 And that's where WCS shines. So what's the secret? 00:04:14.370 --> 00:04:17.930 What does WCS have that makes it so good at boosting 00:04:17.930 --> 00:04:20.399 milk fat? It's all about its unique nutritional 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.120 profile. First off, it's got around 21 % fiber. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.040 Which is good, right? Fiber is important for 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:27.240 rumen health. Yes, but it's not just any fiber. 00:04:27.339 --> 00:04:29.680 It's what's called effective fiber, which means 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:31.980 it keeps the rumen working properly without making 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:34.459 the cow feel too full. So they can eat more and 00:04:34.459 --> 00:04:36.339 produce more milk. Got it. Then there's the fat 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:39.779 content, about 17%. And this fat is released 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:42.439 slowly in the rumen, which is key. Why is that 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:45.379 so important? Well, when fat is released too 00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:48.420 quickly, it can go through a process called biohydrogenation 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:51.079 in the rumen, which can actually lower milk fat. 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:53.259 So it's counterproductive. Exactly. But with 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:57.500 WCS, that slow release minimizes that risk. It's 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:59.779 like a time release energy source for the cow. 00:05:00.389 --> 00:05:03.370 Interesting. And to top it off, WCS also provides 00:05:03.370 --> 00:05:06.610 a decent amount of protein, around 24%. Which 00:05:06.610 --> 00:05:08.750 means it can be a real cost saver compared to 00:05:08.750 --> 00:05:11.550 other protein sources like soybean meal. Okay, 00:05:11.610 --> 00:05:13.490 so we've talked about the why, now let's get 00:05:13.490 --> 00:05:16.790 to the how much. The 2025 University of Minnesota 00:05:16.790 --> 00:05:19.290 trial had some really interesting data comparing 00:05:19.290 --> 00:05:23.709 a 15 % WCS diet to a control diet using cottonsea 00:05:23.709 --> 00:05:26.170 hulls and soybean meal. What did they find? Well, 00:05:26.189 --> 00:05:28.800 let's start with milk fat yield. The cows on 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.560 the WCS diet average 12 ,210 grams of milk fat 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:34.620 per day. Compared to the control group at 1 ,100 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:37.019 grams per day. That's a 10 % increase in fat 00:05:37.019 --> 00:05:38.920 yield. Pretty impressive. But what about the 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.980 cost? I mean, WCS isn't free. Right. The feed 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:44.500 cost per ton for the WCS diet was a bit higher, 00:05:44.660 --> 00:05:49.120 $315 compared to $298 for the control diet. So 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:52.160 on the surface, it seems as the WCS diet is more 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:54.459 expensive. But here's the catch. When you look 00:05:54.459 --> 00:05:57.680 at the income over feed cost, the WCS group came 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:02.199 out ahead at $6 .42 per cow per day. Versus $5 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:05.279 .88 for the control group. That's a difference 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.339 of $0 .54 per cow per day. Which might not sound 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:11.000 like much, but think about it. For a 500 -cow 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.920 herd... That's an extra $98 ,000 per year. $98 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:17.819 ,000. That's a new piece of equipment right there. 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.019 Or maybe you can hire that extra hand you've 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:22.459 been needing. It all goes back to what Dr. Linda 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:24.420 McMullen, as quoted in the Bullvine article, 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:27.259 was saying about focusing on components. Smart 00:06:27.259 --> 00:06:29.060 operators, she called them. They're not just 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:31.100 chasing milk volume. They're looking at the value 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:33.000 of each component. And they're managing their 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.959 feeding to optimize those components because 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:37.160 that's where the real profit lies. And WCS is 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:39.439 a powerful tool to achieve that. Okay, so for 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.160 our listeners here on The Bullvine, how can they 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:43.459 apply this to their own farms? How can they take 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:46.360 advantage of this WCS potential? Well, if your 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.139 co -op or processor offers a premium for higher 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:52.860 milk fat, WCS is a no -brainer. It's a direct 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:55.480 path to increasing your milk check. You're basically 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:58.040 getting paid more for something WCS helps your 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:00.660 cows produce more of. But what about farms in 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.759 areas with flat milk pricing where components 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:06.240 don't really affect the pay price? Is WCS still 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:08.930 a good option? Even then, there's a hidden value 00:07:08.930 --> 00:07:12.189 in WCS, and that's feed efficiency. When you 00:07:12.189 --> 00:07:14.509 feed WCS, you're likely to see an improvement 00:07:14.509 --> 00:07:17.129 in your feed conversion ratio. Meaning you're 00:07:17.129 --> 00:07:20.149 getting more milk solids for every unit of feed 00:07:20.149 --> 00:07:22.709 you use. Exactly. So even if you're not directly 00:07:22.709 --> 00:07:25.529 paid for the extra fat, you're still saving money 00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:28.509 by using less feed overall. Less waste, better 00:07:28.509 --> 00:07:30.750 resource allocation, it all adds up. But there's 00:07:30.750 --> 00:07:33.110 an important caveat here. Our Bullvine article 00:07:33.110 --> 00:07:35.209 mentions this. Some processors actually have 00:07:35.209 --> 00:07:38.029 penalties for too much milk fat. Really? That 00:07:38.029 --> 00:07:39.870 doesn't seem very fair. It's all about their 00:07:39.870 --> 00:07:42.089 processing capabilities and their specific market 00:07:42.089 --> 00:07:44.750 demands. So it's crucial to check your processor 00:07:44.750 --> 00:07:47.870 contracts carefully before making any major changes 00:07:47.870 --> 00:07:49.689 to your feeding program. Don't assume anything. 00:07:49.970 --> 00:07:52.050 Get it in writing. All right, now let's talk 00:07:52.050 --> 00:07:54.269 about the elephant in the room, the practical 00:07:54.269 --> 00:07:58.370 side of things. WCS has a bit of a reputation 00:07:58.370 --> 00:08:00.790 for being difficult to manage on the farm. True, 00:08:00.930 --> 00:08:03.329 it can be prone to heating, especially in warm, 00:08:03.389 --> 00:08:06.029 humid climates. But our Bullvine article highlights 00:08:06.029 --> 00:08:08.870 some great solutions, like what Ten Harm Soul 00:08:08.870 --> 00:08:11.569 Farms in Indiana is doing. They're using repurposed 00:08:11.569 --> 00:08:14.009 grain bins with aeration systems, just like they 00:08:14.009 --> 00:08:16.579 do for high -moisture corn. Lever. They just 00:08:16.579 --> 00:08:19.899 run fans for 30 minutes twice a day, and it keeps 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:22.560 the WCS cool and prevents spoilage. It shows 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.800 that you can adapt existing infrastructure with 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.399 a little creative thinking. So what other storage 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:29.800 best practices are out there? Well, for larger 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:32.320 operations, commodity sheds with walking floors 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:34.559 and dump trucks can really streamline the handling 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:37.220 process. Makes sense. What about in those humid 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:40.549 regions where heating is more of a problem? Coated 00:08:40.549 --> 00:08:43.250 or pelleted WCS can be a good option in those 00:08:43.250 --> 00:08:45.669 situations. They're less susceptible to mold 00:08:45.669 --> 00:08:47.669 growth. And then there's the technology side 00:08:47.669 --> 00:08:50.230 of things. We're seeing more and more farms using 00:08:50.230 --> 00:08:52.710 automated moisture sensors in their silos. Those 00:08:52.710 --> 00:08:55.250 sensors provide constant monitoring, so you can 00:08:55.250 --> 00:08:57.570 catch any heating or moisture issues early on. 00:08:57.909 --> 00:09:00.529 Technology to the rescue. But storage is only 00:09:00.529 --> 00:09:02.929 half the battle, right? There's also the challenge 00:09:02.929 --> 00:09:07.679 of mixing WCS properly in a TMR. It's notorious 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.200 for causing sorting issues. Yeah, because of 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.360 its shape and density, cows can easily pick out 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:15.419 the tastier bits and leave the WCS behind. Which 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:17.059 defeats the whole purpose of feeding it in the 00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:20.019 first place. So what can you do? Well, one trick 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:23.080 is to pre -mix the WCS with something like ground 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:25.500 corn before adding it to the TMR. That helps 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:27.480 distribute it more evenly, so it's harder for 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:29.620 the cows to sort it out. If you're using a vertical 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:32.679 mixer, the best approach is to add the WCS last 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:35.139 and keep the mixing time short, like three to 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:37.590 five minutes max. Overmixing can actually make 00:09:37.590 --> 00:09:39.789 sorting worse interesting. There's also some 00:09:39.789 --> 00:09:42.309 promising research into using liquids like molasses 00:09:42.309 --> 00:09:45.470 or whey permeate in the TMR. They act as a kind 00:09:45.470 --> 00:09:47.929 of glue, sticking the WCS to the other particles. 00:09:48.490 --> 00:09:51.990 Now it's time to address the big fear. Gossiple. 00:09:52.429 --> 00:09:54.870 For years, this has been the major concern with 00:09:54.870 --> 00:09:57.210 feeding cottonseed. But the good news is, the 00:09:57.210 --> 00:10:00.610 2025 University of Minnesota trial put those 00:10:00.610 --> 00:10:03.590 fears to rest. They carefully monitored the cow's 00:10:03.590 --> 00:10:06.990 blood for Gossypol and found that the WCS group 00:10:06.990 --> 00:10:10.629 averaged 4 .2 micromoles per liter. While the 00:10:10.629 --> 00:10:13.870 control group had 1 .1, now the toxic threshold 00:10:13.870 --> 00:10:16.909 for Gossypol in dairy cows is around 25 micromoles 00:10:16.909 --> 00:10:20.250 per liter. So even with 15 % WCS in their diet, 00:10:20.429 --> 00:10:22.929 these cows were nowhere near that danger zone. 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:25.399 In fact, the Bullvine article mentions that a 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:29.659 cow would need to eat about 35 % WCS daily to 00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:32.440 even approach those toxic levels. So at the recommended 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.419 15 % inclusion rate, the risk is minimal. The 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:37.559 research is clear on that. So where did this 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:39.700 whole gossy pole scare come from? Well, it's 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:41.679 a bit of a historical hangover. A lot of the 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.779 earlier research focused on cottonseed meal, 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:45.980 not whole cottonseed. And those are two very 00:10:45.980 --> 00:10:47.720 different products. When you make cottonseed 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.240 meal, you extract the oil, which concentrates 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.200 the gossy pole. But in whole cottonseed, that 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.320 oil is still there, and it's released slowly, 00:10:54.419 --> 00:10:56.259 which actually helps limit gossy pole absorption. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.740 Plus, new cotton varieties have been bred to 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:01.039 have lower gossy pole levels and smaller seeds. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:03.899 So the gossy pole risk is even lower now than 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.929 it used to be. It's a case of science catching 00:11:05.929 --> 00:11:08.470 up and dispelling some outdated fears. This is 00:11:08.470 --> 00:11:10.350 why it's so important to stay up to date on the 00:11:10.350 --> 00:11:13.049 latest research. Absolutely. Now, speaking of 00:11:13.049 --> 00:11:15.690 learning from others, the Bullvine article highlighted 00:11:15.690 --> 00:11:19.049 some interesting global perspectives on WCS use. 00:11:19.450 --> 00:11:21.789 Yeah, it turns out dairies in other parts of 00:11:21.789 --> 00:11:24.190 the world have been successfully using WCS for 00:11:24.190 --> 00:11:26.610 years. Like in Israel, for example, where some 00:11:26.610 --> 00:11:30.090 top dairies include as much as 18 % WCS in their 00:11:30.090 --> 00:11:33.509 rations year -round. 18 %? That's a lot. How 00:11:33.509 --> 00:11:35.669 do they manage the storage? Their dry climate 00:11:35.669 --> 00:11:38.330 definitely helps. But they also have a clever 00:11:38.330 --> 00:11:41.730 trick. They pair WCS with rumen -protected lysine. 00:11:41.889 --> 00:11:43.970 And that helps them consistently hit that sweet 00:11:43.970 --> 00:11:47.309 spot of around 4 .1 % milk fat. It's all about 00:11:47.309 --> 00:11:49.289 finding those nutritional synergies. What about 00:11:49.289 --> 00:11:51.450 other countries? Any more inspiration from abroad? 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:54.659 Brazil is another good example. They use pelletized 00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:57.639 WCS, which makes it easier to handle, especially 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.519 in their humid climate. And they're including 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.299 up to 20 % in their rations. Meanwhile, in Australia, 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.779 where 15 % inclusion is common, they're big on 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.840 using technology. They've got those automated 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.159 moisture sensors all over their storage facilities. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:14.429 To ensure top -notch WCS quality. So what can 00:12:14.429 --> 00:12:16.789 U .S. dairy farmers learn from all this global 00:12:16.789 --> 00:12:19.590 experimentation? Well, first, climate matters. 00:12:19.669 --> 00:12:22.210 You need to adapt your storage solutions to your 00:12:22.210 --> 00:12:24.889 specific conditions. Like using pelleted WCS 00:12:24.889 --> 00:12:27.830 in humid areas? Second, think about nutritional 00:12:27.830 --> 00:12:31.549 pairings. Can you combine WCS with other ingredients 00:12:31.549 --> 00:12:34.169 to maximize its benefit? Like the Israelis do 00:12:34.169 --> 00:12:36.850 with rumen -protected lysine. And finally, don't 00:12:36.850 --> 00:12:39.549 be afraid to embrace technology. Those moisture 00:12:39.549 --> 00:12:42.169 sensors can be a real game changer for storage 00:12:42.169 --> 00:12:44.149 management. So there's a lot we can learn from 00:12:44.149 --> 00:12:46.250 our international counterparts. Now let's talk 00:12:46.250 --> 00:12:48.629 about the environmental impact. Our Bullvine 00:12:48.629 --> 00:12:51.669 article debunks the myth that WCS significantly 00:12:51.669 --> 00:12:55.029 reduces methane emissions. Yeah, the 2025 trial 00:12:55.029 --> 00:12:57.590 didn't find any significant reduction in methane 00:12:57.590 --> 00:13:00.350 from feeding WCS. So if that's your main goal, 00:13:00.509 --> 00:13:03.009 WCS might not be the solution. But that doesn't 00:13:03.009 --> 00:13:05.299 mean it's bad for the environment. It can still 00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:07.559 have indirect benefits through improved efficiency. 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:10.279 Like using less feed to produce the same amount 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.519 of milk? And sourcing WCS locally can reduce 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.340 transportation emissions. Plus, better storage 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:19.460 means less spoilage and waste. So it's not a 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:21.559 direct methane solution, but it can still contribute 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.879 to a more sustainable dairy operation. All right, 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:27.299 so let's say a listener is convinced they want 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:30.340 to try WCS. What are the practical steps they 00:13:30.340 --> 00:13:33.009 should take? Our Bullvine article lays out a 00:13:33.009 --> 00:13:36.090 great 90 -day roadmap. A step -by -step guide 00:13:36.090 --> 00:13:38.210 to get you started. The first couple weeks are 00:13:38.210 --> 00:13:40.809 all about preparation. Establishing your baseline 00:13:40.809 --> 00:13:43.769 milk components, sourcing your WCS, making sure 00:13:43.769 --> 00:13:46.730 your storage is ready. Aim for WCS with around 00:13:46.730 --> 00:13:50.570 16 % fat and 21 % protein. And get your storage 00:13:50.570 --> 00:13:52.950 set up. Whether it's a commodity shed or those 00:13:52.950 --> 00:13:55.070 repurposed grain bins, make sure it's good to 00:13:55.070 --> 00:13:57.309 go. Then comes the introduction phase, weeks 00:13:57.309 --> 00:14:00.500 three and four. Start slow. Just a 5 % inclusion 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:02.299 rate to begin with. Watch their intake. Make 00:14:02.299 --> 00:14:04.179 sure they're adjusting well. And do weekly milk 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:06.259 tests. You need to track those components from 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.539 the get -go. Then in weeks 5 through 8, you gradually 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:11.299 ramp it up. Increase to 10%. Maybe tweak some 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:14.139 other ration components. And keep doing those 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.700 milk tests every week. Finally, weeks 9 through 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:20.240 12, it's full implementation time. Push to that 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:23.179 15 % if everything looks good. Pay close attention 00:14:23.179 --> 00:14:25.909 to your mixing to prevent sorting. And now's 00:14:25.909 --> 00:14:28.110 the time to really analyze your numbers. Is the 00:14:28.110 --> 00:14:30.730 WCS paying off? And what about beyond those first 00:14:30.730 --> 00:14:33.789 90 days? It's all about ongoing monitoring and 00:14:33.789 --> 00:14:36.470 analysis. Fine -tune your storage and handling, 00:14:36.590 --> 00:14:38.370 and don't be afraid to share your results with 00:14:38.370 --> 00:14:40.870 other producers. The dairy community thrives 00:14:40.870 --> 00:14:43.269 on shared knowledge. Exactly. We're all in this 00:14:43.269 --> 00:14:46.820 together. Okay, so bottom line, is WCS the next 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:49.919 big thing for dairy profits? Based on what we've 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:53.259 seen, I'd say it has serious potential, but there 00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:55.820 are three key things you need to get right. Storage, 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:58.559 component tracking, and being open to learning 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:01.259 from others. If you nail those three, WCS could 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:03.580 be a real game changer for your bottom line. 00:15:03.929 --> 00:15:05.629 But there's some important warnings too, right? 00:15:05.710 --> 00:15:08.350 Those critical considerations. Absolutely. First, 00:15:08.509 --> 00:15:10.769 double -check your processor's policies on milk 00:15:10.769 --> 00:15:13.230 fat. You don't want any surprises there. And 00:15:13.230 --> 00:15:15.350 while the research is promising, it's generally 00:15:15.350 --> 00:15:18.409 recommended to avoid high levels of WCS for breeding 00:15:18.409 --> 00:15:21.149 bulls. Just to be on the safe side. And finally, 00:15:21.309 --> 00:15:23.929 remember that feeding WCS to high -producing 00:15:23.929 --> 00:15:26.690 dairy cows is very different from grazing beef 00:15:26.690 --> 00:15:29.090 cattle on cotton residue. Different animals, 00:15:29.230 --> 00:15:32.039 different needs. So for anyone who's still on 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.259 the fence, what's the next step? Well, the Bullvine 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:38.419 article has a great suggestion. Run a small trial 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:42.080 on your own farm. Take 50 cows, implement a WCS 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:44.519 feeding program, and see what happens. Track 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.639 their milk components weekly, crunch the numbers, 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.620 and let the results speak for themselves. In 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:50.919 today's tight market, sometimes you have to think 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:54.139 outside the box. And WCS might just be that unconventional 00:15:54.139 --> 00:15:56.419 solution you've been looking for. So just to 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.779 recap, what are the key takeaways from today's 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:01.620 deep dive? Well, first off, WCS can boost your 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:04.059 profits. The research shows a clear increase 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:07.179 in income over feed cost and a significant bump 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:10.159 in milk fat yield. The gossy pole fears are largely 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:13.340 unfounded at that 15 % inclusion rate. And there's 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.379 a lot we can learn from global dairy farms that 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:18.200 are already successfully using WCS. The key is 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:20.379 to implement it strategically, using a phased 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:22.559 approach and monitoring those milk components 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:25.220 closely. And of course, always double check those 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:28.240 processor policies on milk fat. So to sum it 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:31.080 all up, whole cottonseed at that 15 % inclusion 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:34.360 rate has real potential to transform your dairy's 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:36.720 financial performance. It can replace those traditional 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.600 feeds, streamline your storage and mixing, and 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:42.080 minimize those gossy pull risks. By learning 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.100 from global best practices and implementing WCS 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:47.899 carefully, you can turn those thin margins into 00:16:47.899 --> 00:17:16.390 sustainable profits. Thanks for joining us on 00:17:16.390 --> 00:17:18.779 this deep dive. And until next time. Keep those 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:21.000 milk checks flowing. Thanks for tuning in to 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.299 this special episode of the Bullvine Podcast. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.759 Today, we explored how whole cottonseed could 00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.819 be your dairy operation's secret weapon for boosting 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:33.960 milk fat yield and profitability. From its nutritional 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:36.839 benefits to practical implementation tips, we 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:39.519 hope this deep dive gave you actionable insights 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.940 to consider for your herd. We'd love to hear 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:45.079 your thoughts on today's experimental format. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:48.490 Did you enjoy the change? or do you miss Douglas 00:17:48.490 --> 00:17:51.029 and Bella? Your feedback helps us shape future 00:17:51.029 --> 00:17:53.329 episodes and keep delivering content that matters 00:17:53.329 --> 00:17:56.690 to you. Until next time, keep innovating, stay 00:17:56.690 --> 00:17:59.250 profitable, and remember, every feed decision 00:17:59.250 --> 00:18:02.710 is an opportunity to grow. This is the Bullvine 00:18:02.710 --> 00:18:04.390 Podcast, signing off.