4 BULLETIN 1272, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Alfalfa hay was fed to each cow at the rate of 10 pounds daily, and as 
much silage as would be consumed without waste of silage or hay. 
Peanut feed and cottonseed meal were each fed at the rate of 3 
pounds per cow daily until within 20 days of the close of the experi- 
ment, when it became evident that the cows receiving cottonseed 
meal were gaining in weight considerably more than the other group. 
To remedy this condition as far as possible the cottonseed meal was 
discontinued with one group, and 5 pounds of peanut feed per cow 
per day were fed to the other group, but even these measures were 
not fully effective and the result was that the three cottonseed-meal 
fed cows gained 79 pounds more than the three peanut-feed fed cows. 
The adjustment of the rations should have begun earlier. Tables 4, 
5, and 6 illustrate this experiment. 
Table 4. — Composition of peanut feed and cottonseed meal 
Feed 
Moisture 
Ash 
Crude 
protein 
Albu- 
minoid 
protein 
Ether 
extract 
Crude 
fiber 
Nitrogen- 
free 
extract 
Peanut feed .. 
Per cent 
5.91 
6.96 
Per cent 
3.56 
6.50 
Per cent 
27.25 
39.13 
Per cent 
26.01 
37.50 
Per cent 
7.11 
7.03 
Per cent 
26.86 
9.84 
Per cent 
29.31 
30.54 
Table 5. — Comparative results of feeding cottonseed meal and peanut feed 
Quantity of feed Yield 
Gain or 
Group 
Grain 
Peanut 
meal 
Cotton- 
seed 
meal 
Alfalfa 
hay 
SS i Mflk 
Butter- 
fat 
loss in 
body- 
weight 
Pounds 
2,076 
2,148 
Pounds 
1, 414 5 
Pounds 
Pounds 
3,806 
3,953 
Pounds 
10, 359 
10, 732 
Pounds 
9, 9*3. 3 
10, 334. 4 
Pounds 
432. 25 
445. 69 
Pounds 
—61.4 
1, 071. 5 
17.2 
Table 6. — Feed consumed for each pound of butterfat produced in peanut-feed 
experiment l 
Group 
Grain 
Peanut 
feed 
Cotton- 
seed 
meal 
Alfalfa 
hay 
Corn 
silage 
Pounds 
4.80 
4.82 
Pounds 
3.27 
Pounds 
Pounds 
8.81 
8.87 
Pounds 
24.0 
Cottonseed-meal groups ._. . . .. 
2.40 
241 
1 This experiment indicates that 1 pound of cottonseed meal is equal to about 1.36 pounds of peanut feed. 
Since the cottonseed-meal groups gained more than the other 
groups, the relative value assigned to the peanut feed must be con- 
sidered as representing the maximum value. Apparently with these 
feeds the protein content is a fairly reliable indication of the feeding 
value. Trie peanut feed is very palatable and there seems to be no 
reason why it should not come into general use as a feed for dairy 
cows. 
Since this experiment was conducted, much peanut meal is bein^ 
made from the nulled nuts and runs as high in protein as cottonseed 
meal. Until further tests are made, such meal may be assumed to 
be equal in feeding value to cottonseed meal. 
