Cottonseed Meals as the Primary Protein Supplement in Concentrate Feeds for Young Calves

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Abstract
Responses of calves to starters containing cottonseed meals produced by different methods and containing different concentrations of free gossypol were investigated. Starters containing hydraulic-pressed cottonseed meal at levels of 40 and 60% were compared with similar starters containing a special screw-pressed cottonseed meal. Concentrations of free gossypol in the starters were 0.107, 0.071, 0.035, and 0.023%, respectively. Corresponding mortality rates among calves consuming these starters ad libitum were 100, 50, 75, and 0%. There was a positive correlation between free-gossypol intake by the calves up to 48 days of age and subsequent mortality. Maximum safe intake of free gossypol during this period was approximately 140 mg/cwt./ day. Comparisons of calf starters containing 40 and 60%, of degossypolized (0.029% free gossypol) cottonseed meal with starters containing corresponding levels of solvent-extracted soybean oil meal and with a starter having a blend, 40% of the former and 20% of the latter, revealed no significant difference in weight gains of calves during a 120-day period. Weight increases in these comparisons were similar to those from the starter containing the special screw-pressed cottonseed meal. Observations substantiate the prevalent view that young calves are highly sensitive to gossypol toxicity, but the free-gossypol content of the cottonseed meals produced by improved processes was sufficiently low to permit the use of these meals as the primary source of protein in practical calf starters.