cotton seed hulls

[MrBilly]

We put a lot of cotton seed hulls in our cattle feed. Does anyone know of studies about the content of pesticides, defoiliants and other bad things in this stuff? I have not been able to find anything on the NET.



:?:

 

[Chuck]

Mr Billy-I don't have an answer for you but I do have a question. I recall seeing cows in Arizona one time in a cotton field after harvest gleaning what was left after the cotton was picked. This may be a dumb question,since all I know about cotton is that my pants are made from it,but why would there be more nasty stuff like defoliants and pesticides in cotton seed hulls than in the leaves,stems and such left in the field? I've read several good articles that came from the University of Georgia Extension. Maybe somebody there could help you out.

 

[Arnold Ziffle]

Chuck -- I also don't have an answer to Mr. Billy's question, but in answer to yours: If you saw cattle grazing in a harvested cotton field I'd guess that they were mostly eating the lush re-growth of leaves that sprouted after the complete defoliation and harvesting of the cotton, and thus would not be eating any defoliant residue.

As to Mr. Billy's question, I've never come across anything written on this topic (nor have I searched for it), but it is just my guess that there really are no harmful levels of pesticides and other chemical residues --- otherwise the dairy farms wouldn't feed cotton seed in such large quantities.

 

[Beefy]

no answers here either really-

just a few observations:
the cattle mostly eat the left over cotton husks left on the plant and weeds/grass left in between rows and around edges of fields.
cotton plants are poisonous to cattle, very little leaf is eaten.
new growth, if eaten, would have no defoliant or pesticide on it.
Pesticides and defoliants are external so they may have no effect on the reproductive parts of the cotton plant.

our cattle glean the cotton fields each year with no ill effects other than the occasional runny eye from cotton stems. however, in most years our cotton is harvested so late (b/c cattle are on winter annuals as late as possible) that we dont have to defoliate b/c of frost.

 

[Scotty]

The only concern I would have is on cotton that is still growing say in the summer time. There are systemic pesticides that can be poisonous to cattle durring those times if thye are used. But for cotton after harvest there should be no worries. I can't see much good in it because cotton has such a woody texture that the cattle won't eat it. Beefy is right about the new growth. There are some people that feed burrs. What I mean is the husk that once contained the lint and seed of the cotton. These can have some residual effect of defoliants. Usually if a gin has had them piled up for a while it will evaporate. Usually after the harvest. Once apon a time acid was used to defoliate and there wre some cattle reported becoming sick. I really can't back that up other than to say it was hear say.(my father) If you are concerned have it tested. I believe that most commercial feed stuff distributors test theirs anyway. Hope this helps. I have been out of the cotton business for some time now.


Scotty

 

[MrBilly]

Thanks for all your input.

This is what the nutritionist at the extension service had to say, " Cottonseed hulls do not have any significant residual pesticides or
defoliants. You could probably detect some pesticides in the hulls with the
sensitive lab equipment we have today, but they are fed routinely to dairy
cows, so that is a good indication they are safe. "

Testing might be a good thing to do just to be sure.

Billy

 

[MrBilly]

Here is another reply from another scientist. "Federal registration (EPA, FDA) for cotton harvest aid products includes information
about potential residues in whole cottonseed and such information is reflected on the
product labels. For example, if there was suspected to be a problem, the product
lablel would give a prohibition against feeding seed.


I've reviewed the labels of several of these products and do not see a prohibition
against feeding cottonseed following the use of defoliants, etc. In fact, routine uses
of seed include feed for dairy animals and cottonseed oil for human consumption,
thus, it seems logical that these products do not pose a threat in beef rations. While
cottonseed hulls are obviously not cottonseed, it seems logical that as part of the
seed, the hulls are also acceptable for feed."

Billy

 

[MrBilly]

And one other response from the Cotton Industry scientist, "He explained
that cotton is grown as a food source for human consumption and the
pesticides/defoliants used in its production are approved by the EPA and the
FDA. In light of this, further testing is not required. The hulls are
obtained from the cottonseed oil crushing mills. About one third of the
cottonseed oil and linters are used in human foodstuffs.
"


My question was, " I feed cottonseed hulls to our beef cattle during finishing. My question is, can you point me to studies regarding the safety of hulls with regards to residuals of pesticides and defoliants that might be found in the resulting beef meat?

Is there any testing required of hulls in GA that go into feedstuffs for residuals of pesticides and defoliants?

If not, what kind of testing would I do if I wanted to test for these agents - at my own cost? Specifically, what agents would I test for? What department of UGA tests for these agents?"

Not sure all of these people have answered my question, is their a residual in hulls, and if so what is acceptable, and does anyone test for it?

I guess I will continue my search and probably find someone to test them for me.

Billy