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

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.

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

We fed cotton seed.....really puts the fat on. Stop feeding during the season.

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..

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..

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.

Fwiw I recently met a deer biologist and he regularly feeds cottonseed on his family ranch.

Cottonseed is regularly fed to domestic stock in one form or another. Does the sterilization factor exist in this situation, I wonder?

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

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.

Some good info.

That's some hands on experience there.

We have been keeping the protein going and pretty soon, we will start adding in cottonseed. Whatever pellets are in the feeders at July 4th will be allowed to run out and cottonseed will be the sole source of supplemental feed until about Labor Day.

unlike the others i put cottonseed out right before the rut dec 16 at our place the big boys hit it hard and regular, it also seems to go faster near a water source

My neighbor and I both put cotton seed out. I have two cotton seed setups and he two as well. We laugh as we doubt there hasn't been on bite taken. A year later they have still totally avoided it. Oh well it was worth a try!

For axis and whitetail, we dump 2 super sacks every other month, year round.
Haven’t had any issue with deer production.

We started cottonseed on the first ranch six years ago. January through October. It helped bring body weights up over time on our mature bucks from 175 to 225 ish with protein (and antlers). Now we have evolved to year round to help reduce rut induced stress effects. I've noticed that since they always have the option to 'graze' its grab a few mouthfuls then move onto the forbs or protein or whatever the weed of the day is that particular day. Its a great addition to the diet and I've had no issue with fawn recruitment.


Also, If your having trouble getting your deer started on plain cottonseed try sprinkling it with vanilla flavoring. I had to do that on the second ranch to get them started on it. But beware the pigs think its something they can eat so they will chew a bunch up before they figure out they can't digest it.

I assume that you would use a vanilla extract flavoring to the cottonseed? How much to use?

I'm curious as well on how much to use!

I have noticed that some quit feeding cottonseed during deer season. Why is that?

When we were loading our hoops we would sprinkle/pour the extract (it can be fake from the grocer) on the cotton to get the smell/scent into the wind. It took several months but now I can't keep the hoops full. No scent, the deer figured out it is good for their systems.

!2th Man - use what you need to get the deer interested however if you have pigs it will draw them also!

Wilhunt- Some biologists/cattle folks believe that the pesticides used on cottonseed lower the bucks semen count so they quit feeding prior to the rut to let any prions (I think I have this correct) clear the deer's system before the onset of the rut. Anyway, we now feed year round and have not noticed any reduced fawn crops on our ranch. I can only speak for our experience since they are not eating it 100% and have free choice browse, protein and corn if desired.

Hope this helps.

I left the barn door open when I purchased the cotton seed. My two moochers (horses) wondered in and tore the bags opened and helped themselves. They loved it, I thought the deer would too. I'll head to the store tomorrow and pick a few bottles up. It can't hurt and if they take to it all the better.

Thanks

Usins here shut off all free choice feed during the hunting season.