Evaluation of cotton seed cake as a feed ingredient for fattening sheep

Abstract

Abstract:The value of cotton seed cake as a source of crude protein in sheep diets was studied. The cotton seed cake was incorporated into diets at levels of 0, 15 and 30 YO after replacement of soya bean meal and was fed adlibitum to growing lambs.The diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Sixteen lambs (8 male and 8 female) having an average liveweight of approximately 13.6 kg were used in each treatment.After being fed for 62 days and having reached a liveweight of approximately 26.7 kg, five male lambs from each treatment were slaughtered and carcass data were collected. Results of the growth trial showed that there were no significant differences in feedlot performance or carcass analysis among the lambs fed these diets. The dressing percentage was slightly higher (P > 0.05) for lambs fed the 15 YO cotton seed cake compared with the 30% cotton seed cake and control diets. However, the final weights were substantially higher ( P < 0,001) and live average daily gains and feed intakes were all higher (P < 0.10) for male animals.It was concluded that cotton seed cake is an acceptable feed ingredient for growing sheep and can satisfactorily replace soya bean meal as a source of protein in ruminant diets, a feedstuff locally produced in Greece and substantially cheaper than the imported soya bean meal.

Effects of varying levels of dietary free gossypol in whole cotton seed on physiological responses of growing-fattening lambs

“…51 Diarrhoea may speed transit time of the gossypol through the digestive tract and alter the functional mucosal surface area in a way that decreases gossypol absorption. 51 However, Nikokyris et al 14 and Kandylis et al 12,13 found that the feeding of the average daily intake of 66±103 and 202±721 mg of free gossypol from cottonseed cake and WCS respectively to growing lambs had no toxic effects on growth and health of lambs. In an earlier study, Morgan et al 30 reported 100% mortality before the 30 day feeding trial was ®nished in lambs administered with 900 mg kg À1 of free gossypol, and myocardial lesions in euthanatised lambs consuming 100 mg kg À1 of free gossypol.…”

“…However, there was no evidence of gossypol poisoning in young sheep consuming rations containing up to 30% cottonseed cake or WCS. 12,13 In a related study, Nikokyris et al 14 found that dietary gossypol concentrations in cottonseed cake diets did not have any harmful effect on the blood parameters plasma total protein, albumin, globulins, urea, glucose, haematocrit, haemoglobin and MCHC for lambs, but some changes did take place in all blood constituents studied. Furthermore, neither haematological nor pathomorphological changes were observed in lambs given cottonseed cake diets supplying 66±103 mg of free gossypol daily for about 2 months.…”

Performance of growing-fattening lambs fed diets containing different proportions of cotton seed meal

“…23,24 Values for feed utilization ratios and carcass analysis parameters similar to those we measured for lambs of the same sex and breed slaughtered at similar live weights and fed cotton seed cake 15 and whole cotton seed diets 13 have been reported by Kandylis et al, except our values for intestinal fat are much lower than those reported by Kandylis et al 13 and those for perirenal fat are much higher than those found by Kandylis et al 15 Further, the high positive relationship between slaughter liveweight and rumen content weight 15 and between slaughter liveweight and intestinal content weight 13 reported by Kandylis et al, was not found in this study. Data in the literature on intestinal and perirenal fat are variable, because it appears that these measures may or may not be affected by diet 7,13 or breed.…”

“…The mineral mixture in all rations provided enough sodium chloride, calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals to meet the dietary needs of sheep as reported by the NRC. 14 The composition of the mineral mix and vitamin supplement used in the rations was that described by Kandylis et al 15 The composition of the rations and the chemical composition of the experimental diets are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.…”

Performance of growing-fattening lambs fed whole cotton seed

“…Each diet had common basal components of the C diet, which contained (g kg~1) corn grain (470), barley grain (100), soya bean meal (160), lucerne hay (240) and mineral mix (30). The mineral mix was that described by Kandylis et al (1992). Commercial, unprocessed WCS was used.…”