Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. Today we're
trying something new. Instead of our regular
hosts, Douglas and Bella, we're featuring an
experimental episode. We're excited to showcase
this new approach and would love your feedback.
Hey everyone and welcome back to the Bullvine.
Today, we're diving deep into a feed ingredient
that could be a real game changer. I'm talking
about boosting your milk check profitability
by as much as 15%. Wow, 15%, that's significant.
Yeah, and it's all thanks to a feed you might
not expect, whole cottonseed. Or WCS, as you'll
hear us call it. Now, I bet some of you are thinking,
hold on, isn't cottonseed risky? You know, you've
heard things, maybe some rumors. Right. There
are those concerns about gossy pole, plus the
whole hassle of storing and handling it. Is it
really worth it? It's definitely been a topic
of conversation, that's for sure. Exactly. But
that's why we're doing this deep dive here on
The Bullvine to cut through all that chatter
and get to the hard facts. We want to look at
the science, the real world results, and see
if WCS can truly live up to the hype. Especially
now in 2025, with milk prices hovering around
that $18 per hundred weight mark, every penny
counts. You've got to be sharp with your financials,
and that means looking at all your options, even
those you might have dismissed before. So we're
going to find out if whole cottonseed could be
your secret weapon, especially for boosting those
all -important milk components like fat. For
this deep dive, we've got some fresh research
hot off the press from the Journal of Dairy Science,
and we'll be looking closely at a 2025 trial
from the University of Minnesota. We're going
to break it all down, the costs, the benefits,
the practical steps. By the end of this, you'll
know if WCS is right for your operation. Sounds
good to me. Let's get into it. Okay, so first
things first. Here at The Bullvine, we've been
seeing a lot of buzz about what some are calling
a whole -clotten -seat renaissance. Why is WCS
suddenly getting so much attention now? in 2025.
Well, like we said, milk prices aren't exactly
soaring, right? Margins are thin, and that's
putting pressure on every single input on the
farm. Producers are really scrutinizing their
feed costs, trying to optimize wherever they
can. Exactly. And they're starting to rethink
ingredients that maybe weren't on their radar
before. Kind of like, hey, let's take another
look at this WCS thing. Maybe it's not so bad
after all. Right, and this is where that 2025
University of Minnesota trial comes in. It provided
some really solid evidence that not only is WCS
safe at a 15 % inclusion rate, which, let's be
honest, was a big concern for a lot of folks.
Yeah, the gossy poll thing had everyone spooked.
But this trial went further. They actually showed
that WCS has the potential to significantly boost
profitability. Real numbers, not just speculation.
Speaking of real numbers, we've got a great example
featured on The Bullvine, the story of Schlitzer
Dairy in Wisconsin. They made a simple switch,
swapped out five pounds of soybean meal for WCS
and their cow's diet. And what happened? Their
milk fat jumped up by 0 .3 percentage points.
Which doesn't sound like much, but for an 800
cow herd, that translated to an extra $1 ,200
in revenue per day. Every single day. Talk about
impact. So yeah, WCS has real potential. But
you've been careful to say it's not a magic bullet,
more like a precision tool. What do you mean
by that? I mean, you can't just throw WCS into
the mix and expect miracles. You need to be strategic
about it. It's not a one size fits all solution.
You have to understand how it sits into your
overall feeding program. And how it impacts your
milk components, particularly fat. That's crucial.
So let's talk about that focus on milk components,
especially fat. Why is it so crucial right now?
We touched on the economics, but there's more
to it, isn't there? Oh, absolutely. With the
rise of value -based pricing systems, the components
in your milk They're like gold. It's not just
about the quantity of milk anymore, but the quality.
Exactly. And milk fat is often the most valuable
component. If you can increase your fat content,
you can significantly increase your pay price.
So any feed ingredient that can reliably and
cost -effectively boost milk fat is a huge advantage.
And that's where WCS shines. So what's the secret?
What does WCS have that makes it so good at boosting
milk fat? It's all about its unique nutritional
profile. First off, it's got around 21 % fiber.
Which is good, right? Fiber is important for
rumen health. Yes, but it's not just any fiber.
It's what's called effective fiber, which means
it keeps the rumen working properly without making
the cow feel too full. So they can eat more and
produce more milk. Got it. Then there's the fat
content, about 17%. And this fat is released
slowly in the rumen, which is key. Why is that
so important? Well, when fat is released too
quickly, it can go through a process called biohydrogenation
in the rumen, which can actually lower milk fat.
So it's counterproductive. Exactly. But with
WCS, that slow release minimizes that risk. It's
like a time release energy source for the cow.
Interesting. And to top it off, WCS also provides
a decent amount of protein, around 24%. Which
means it can be a real cost saver compared to
other protein sources like soybean meal. Okay,
so we've talked about the why, now let's get
to the how much. The 2025 University of Minnesota
trial had some really interesting data comparing
a 15 % WCS diet to a control diet using cottonsea
hulls and soybean meal. What did they find? Well,
let's start with milk fat yield. The cows on
the WCS diet average 12 ,210 grams of milk fat
per day. Compared to the control group at 1 ,100
grams per day. That's a 10 % increase in fat
yield. Pretty impressive. But what about the
cost? I mean, WCS isn't free. Right. The feed
cost per ton for the WCS diet was a bit higher,
$315 compared to $298 for the control diet. So
on the surface, it seems as the WCS diet is more
expensive. But here's the catch. When you look
at the income over feed cost, the WCS group came
out ahead at $6 .42 per cow per day. Versus $5
.88 for the control group. That's a difference
of $0 .54 per cow per day. Which might not sound
like much, but think about it. For a 500 -cow
herd... That's an extra $98 ,000 per year. $98
,000. That's a new piece of equipment right there.
Or maybe you can hire that extra hand you've
been needing. It all goes back to what Dr. Linda
McMullen, as quoted in the Bullvine article,
was saying about focusing on components. Smart
operators, she called them. They're not just
chasing milk volume. They're looking at the value
of each component. And they're managing their
feeding to optimize those components because
that's where the real profit lies. And WCS is
a powerful tool to achieve that. Okay, so for
our listeners here on The Bullvine, how can they
apply this to their own farms? How can they take
advantage of this WCS potential? Well, if your
co -op or processor offers a premium for higher
milk fat, WCS is a no -brainer. It's a direct
path to increasing your milk check. You're basically
getting paid more for something WCS helps your
cows produce more of. But what about farms in
areas with flat milk pricing where components
don't really affect the pay price? Is WCS still
a good option? Even then, there's a hidden value
in WCS, and that's feed efficiency. When you
feed WCS, you're likely to see an improvement
in your feed conversion ratio. Meaning you're
getting more milk solids for every unit of feed
you use. Exactly. So even if you're not directly
paid for the extra fat, you're still saving money
by using less feed overall. Less waste, better
resource allocation, it all adds up. But there's
an important caveat here. Our Bullvine article
mentions this. Some processors actually have
penalties for too much milk fat. Really? That
doesn't seem very fair. It's all about their
processing capabilities and their specific market
demands. So it's crucial to check your processor
contracts carefully before making any major changes
to your feeding program. Don't assume anything.
Get it in writing. All right, now let's talk
about the elephant in the room, the practical
side of things. WCS has a bit of a reputation
for being difficult to manage on the farm. True,
it can be prone to heating, especially in warm,
humid climates. But our Bullvine article highlights
some great solutions, like what Ten Harm Soul
Farms in Indiana is doing. They're using repurposed
grain bins with aeration systems, just like they
do for high -moisture corn. Lever. They just
run fans for 30 minutes twice a day, and it keeps
the WCS cool and prevents spoilage. It shows
that you can adapt existing infrastructure with
a little creative thinking. So what other storage
best practices are out there? Well, for larger
operations, commodity sheds with walking floors
and dump trucks can really streamline the handling
process. Makes sense. What about in those humid
regions where heating is more of a problem? Coated
or pelleted WCS can be a good option in those
situations. They're less susceptible to mold
growth. And then there's the technology side
of things. We're seeing more and more farms using
automated moisture sensors in their silos. Those
sensors provide constant monitoring, so you can
catch any heating or moisture issues early on.
Technology to the rescue. But storage is only
half the battle, right? There's also the challenge
of mixing WCS properly in a TMR. It's notorious
for causing sorting issues. Yeah, because of
its shape and density, cows can easily pick out
the tastier bits and leave the WCS behind. Which
defeats the whole purpose of feeding it in the
first place. So what can you do? Well, one trick
is to pre -mix the WCS with something like ground
corn before adding it to the TMR. That helps
distribute it more evenly, so it's harder for
the cows to sort it out. If you're using a vertical
mixer, the best approach is to add the WCS last
and keep the mixing time short, like three to
five minutes max. Overmixing can actually make
sorting worse interesting. There's also some
promising research into using liquids like molasses
or whey permeate in the TMR. They act as a kind
of glue, sticking the WCS to the other particles.
Now it's time to address the big fear. Gossiple.
For years, this has been the major concern with
feeding cottonseed. But the good news is, the
2025 University of Minnesota trial put those
fears to rest. They carefully monitored the cow's
blood for Gossypol and found that the WCS group
averaged 4 .2 micromoles per liter. While the
control group had 1 .1, now the toxic threshold
for Gossypol in dairy cows is around 25 micromoles
per liter. So even with 15 % WCS in their diet,
these cows were nowhere near that danger zone.
In fact, the Bullvine article mentions that a
cow would need to eat about 35 % WCS daily to
even approach those toxic levels. So at the recommended
15 % inclusion rate, the risk is minimal. The
research is clear on that. So where did this
whole gossy pole scare come from? Well, it's
a bit of a historical hangover. A lot of the
earlier research focused on cottonseed meal,
not whole cottonseed. And those are two very
different products. When you make cottonseed
meal, you extract the oil, which concentrates
the gossy pole. But in whole cottonseed, that
oil is still there, and it's released slowly,
which actually helps limit gossy pole absorption.
Plus, new cotton varieties have been bred to
have lower gossy pole levels and smaller seeds.
So the gossy pole risk is even lower now than
it used to be. It's a case of science catching
up and dispelling some outdated fears. This is
why it's so important to stay up to date on the
latest research. Absolutely. Now, speaking of
learning from others, the Bullvine article highlighted
some interesting global perspectives on WCS use.
Yeah, it turns out dairies in other parts of
the world have been successfully using WCS for
years. Like in Israel, for example, where some
top dairies include as much as 18 % WCS in their
rations year -round. 18 %? That's a lot. How
do they manage the storage? Their dry climate
definitely helps. But they also have a clever
trick. They pair WCS with rumen -protected lysine.
And that helps them consistently hit that sweet
spot of around 4 .1 % milk fat. It's all about
finding those nutritional synergies. What about
other countries? Any more inspiration from abroad?
Brazil is another good example. They use pelletized
WCS, which makes it easier to handle, especially
in their humid climate. And they're including
up to 20 % in their rations. Meanwhile, in Australia,
where 15 % inclusion is common, they're big on
using technology. They've got those automated
moisture sensors all over their storage facilities.
To ensure top -notch WCS quality. So what can
U .S. dairy farmers learn from all this global
experimentation? Well, first, climate matters.
You need to adapt your storage solutions to your
specific conditions. Like using pelleted WCS
in humid areas? Second, think about nutritional
pairings. Can you combine WCS with other ingredients
to maximize its benefit? Like the Israelis do
with rumen -protected lysine. And finally, don't
be afraid to embrace technology. Those moisture
sensors can be a real game changer for storage
management. So there's a lot we can learn from
our international counterparts. Now let's talk
about the environmental impact. Our Bullvine
article debunks the myth that WCS significantly
reduces methane emissions. Yeah, the 2025 trial
didn't find any significant reduction in methane
from feeding WCS. So if that's your main goal,
WCS might not be the solution. But that doesn't
mean it's bad for the environment. It can still
have indirect benefits through improved efficiency.
Like using less feed to produce the same amount
of milk? And sourcing WCS locally can reduce
transportation emissions. Plus, better storage
means less spoilage and waste. So it's not a
direct methane solution, but it can still contribute
to a more sustainable dairy operation. All right,
so let's say a listener is convinced they want
to try WCS. What are the practical steps they
should take? Our Bullvine article lays out a
great 90 -day roadmap. A step -by -step guide
to get you started. The first couple weeks are
all about preparation. Establishing your baseline
milk components, sourcing your WCS, making sure
your storage is ready. Aim for WCS with around
16 % fat and 21 % protein. And get your storage
set up. Whether it's a commodity shed or those
repurposed grain bins, make sure it's good to
go. Then comes the introduction phase, weeks
three and four. Start slow. Just a 5 % inclusion
rate to begin with. Watch their intake. Make
sure they're adjusting well. And do weekly milk
tests. You need to track those components from
the get -go. Then in weeks 5 through 8, you gradually
ramp it up. Increase to 10%. Maybe tweak some
other ration components. And keep doing those
milk tests every week. Finally, weeks 9 through
12, it's full implementation time. Push to that
15 % if everything looks good. Pay close attention
to your mixing to prevent sorting. And now's
the time to really analyze your numbers. Is the
WCS paying off? And what about beyond those first
90 days? It's all about ongoing monitoring and
analysis. Fine -tune your storage and handling,
and don't be afraid to share your results with
other producers. The dairy community thrives
on shared knowledge. Exactly. We're all in this
together. Okay, so bottom line, is WCS the next
big thing for dairy profits? Based on what we've
seen, I'd say it has serious potential, but there
are three key things you need to get right. Storage,
component tracking, and being open to learning
from others. If you nail those three, WCS could
be a real game changer for your bottom line.
But there's some important warnings too, right?
Those critical considerations. Absolutely. First,
double -check your processor's policies on milk
fat. You don't want any surprises there. And
while the research is promising, it's generally
recommended to avoid high levels of WCS for breeding
bulls. Just to be on the safe side. And finally,
remember that feeding WCS to high -producing
dairy cows is very different from grazing beef
cattle on cotton residue. Different animals,
different needs. So for anyone who's still on
the fence, what's the next step? Well, the Bullvine
article has a great suggestion. Run a small trial
on your own farm. Take 50 cows, implement a WCS
feeding program, and see what happens. Track
their milk components weekly, crunch the numbers,
and let the results speak for themselves. In
today's tight market, sometimes you have to think
outside the box. And WCS might just be that unconventional
solution you've been looking for. So just to
recap, what are the key takeaways from today's
deep dive? Well, first off, WCS can boost your
profits. The research shows a clear increase
in income over feed cost and a significant bump
in milk fat yield. The gossy pole fears are largely
unfounded at that 15 % inclusion rate. And there's
a lot we can learn from global dairy farms that
are already successfully using WCS. The key is
to implement it strategically, using a phased
approach and monitoring those milk components
closely. And of course, always double check those
processor policies on milk fat. So to sum it
all up, whole cottonseed at that 15 % inclusion
rate has real potential to transform your dairy's
financial performance. It can replace those traditional
feeds, streamline your storage and mixing, and
minimize those gossy pull risks. By learning
from global best practices and implementing WCS
carefully, you can turn those thin margins into
sustainable profits. Thanks for joining us on
this deep dive. And until next time. Keep those
milk checks flowing. Thanks for tuning in to
this special episode of the Bullvine Podcast.
Today, we explored how whole cottonseed could
be your dairy operation's secret weapon for boosting
milk fat yield and profitability. From its nutritional
benefits to practical implementation tips, we
hope this deep dive gave you actionable insights
to consider for your herd. We'd love to hear
your thoughts on today's experimental format.
Did you enjoy the change? or do you miss Douglas
and Bella? Your feedback helps us shape future
episodes and keep delivering content that matters
to you. Until next time, keep innovating, stay
profitable, and remember, every feed decision
is an opportunity to grow. This is the Bullvine
Podcast, signing off.