The Effects of Varying Gossypol Intake from Whole Cottonseed and Cottonseed Meal on Lactation and Blood Parameters in Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Effects of varying amounts of gossypol from whole Upland cottonseed (WCS) and cottonseed meal (CSM) were evaluated in 40 midlactation Holstein cows. After 14 d of pretreatment, cows were assigned to 1 of the 5 treatments for 84 d: control (no gossypol), 931 mg/kg total gossypol (TG) and 850 mg/kg free gossypol (FG) from WCS (moderate TG and high FG); 924 mg/kg TG and 91 mg/kg FG from CSM (moderate TG and low FG), 945 mg/kg TG and 479 mg/kg FG with equal amounts of TG from WCS and CSM (moderate TG and FG), or 1894 mg/kg TG and 960 mg/kg FG with equal amounts of TG from WCS and CSM (high TG and FG). Concentrations of plasma gossypol (PG) and its isomers were directly proportional to FG intake. Concentrations of PG reached a plateau after 28 d on treatment, and they were highest in cows receiving a diet with high TG and FG. Erythrocyte fragility differed among treatments and increased with increasing FG intake. Plasma gossypol returned to negligible concentrations 28 d after withdrawal of cottonseed products from the high TG and FG diet. Serum vitamin A was similar among treatments, but vitamin E increased with increasing FG intake. Serum enzymes were generally unaffected by treatments, but urea N increased in diets higher in TG and FG. Intake of dry matter was higher for the diet high in TG and FG than for the control diet, but was similar for other treatments. Cows receiving the high TG and FG diet produced more milk and 3.5% fat-corrected milk, with no changes in milk composition. Feeding a diet containing 1894 mg/kg TG and 960 mg/kg FG for 84 d increased PG concentrations and erythrocyte fragility and resulted in minor changes in blood metabolites and enzymes, but no detrimental effect on lactation performance was observed. Indicators of liver, kidney, and muscle cell viability suggest that the higher amounts of gossypol consumed in this study had only minor effects on those tissues in lactating dairy cows.

Concentration of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in the milk from grazing cows supplemented with palm oil, rice bran or whole cottonseed

“…However, there is evidence showing that part of gossypol escapes ruminal fermentation (Mena et al, 2004) and can affect animal health and performance (Risco et al, 2002). Effects of gossypol can lead to low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (Velasquez-Pereira et al, 1999), osmotic fragility of erythrocyte, decrease in cell antioxidant power (Risco et al, 2002), productive performance (Santos et al, 2003;Villaseñor et al, 2008), milk production and breathing rate and finally death (Lindsey et al, 1980).…”

Bean coproduct as source of protein in dairy cows diets

“…Contradictory results are reported in the literature regarding the production of dairy cows supplemented with different protein sources such studies reveal since no significant effect (BERNARD, 1997;PINA et al, 2006;MENA et al, 2001;MENA et al, 2004. ) to the linear decrease of milk production with the inclusion of bean residues (MAGALHÃES et al, 2008).…”

Growth performance and toxic response of broilers fed diets containing fermented or unfermented cottonseed meal

“…Similarly, Willard et al (1995) found that toxic effects of gossypol were much greater in nonruminants than in ruminants due to the fact that FG is binding with soluble proteins or amino acids in the rumen. However, numerous studies have shown that BG may be released as FG during the digestion period and then can be absorbed by the digestive tract (Blackwelder et al, 1998;Mena et al, 2004). Furthermore, broiler chickens fed extruded CSM still show poor growth performance, even though the extrusion process greatly decreased FG but not TG concentration (Gadelha et al, 2014).…”

“…In addition, Mena et al (2004) suggested that the amounts of TG besides FG should be considered when determining a safe dairy cow feeding with products containing available gossypol.…”