SIKESTON MAN'S DONATION OF COTTONSEED TO HELP BEEF HERD

Gaylon Lawrence of Sikeston has donated five tons of whole cottonseed to the Southeast Missouri State University Demonstration Farm to enhance the rebreeding performance of the university's beef herd.

The cottonseed, due to its oil content, is 90 percent digestible nutrients and will be fed to the cattle this fall."This high level of energy will be just what the herd needs for an outstanding fall rebreeding program," said Dr. William Ellis, Southeast professor of agriculture.

Ellis said the donation comes at a time when he was very concerned about the upcoming fall breeding because of the lack of grass to supply nutrients."Mr. Lawrence has come to the rescue of the University Demonstration Farm," Ellis said. This year's drought has taken its toll on the farm. Fall is normally a season of abundant cool-season grass growth, but the lack of rainfall has reduced the supply of grass.

Compounding the problem is that fall is the busy calving season for the university's beef herd. Eighty-six calves have been born at the Demonstration Farm this fall. Fall also is the time for rebreeding the cattle herd. Cattle need the lush, cool-season grass pasture for the nutrients needed to grow, produce milk for the calf and to cycle for rebreeding, Ellis said.