The Utilization of Cotton Gin Trash by Growing and Fattening Steers

Initially, it was found with individually fed steers that unprocessed gin trash was as palatable as silage. The addition of molasses did not add to palatalibity, rates of gain, or feed efficiency. Because the silage-gin trash-grain mixture produced desirable gains, a second study was initiated that involved six ratios of silage:gin trash fed to groups of steers during a growing and a fattening period. It was found that gin trash, when fed as part of the roughage, was equal to silage in the production of steer gains. Stilbestrol resulted in markedly increased gains although no difference was observed between animals implanted with 36 mg. at 0 and 91 days and 12 mg. of stilbestrol monthly. A reduced carcass grade was found due to stilbestrol as well as to progressive increases of dietary gin trash. The stilbestrol and ration effects on rates of gain and carcass grades were independent of each other.