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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152542
Title: COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL LINTED COTTONSEED AND MECHANICALLY DELINTED COTTONSEED IN DIETS FOR DAIRY COWS

Author
item MOREIRA, V - UW-MADISON
item Satter, Larry
item HARDING, B - BUCKEYE TECHNOLOGIES

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2003
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Moreira, V.R., Satter, L.D., Harding, B. 2004. Comparison of conventional linted cottonseed and mechanically delinted cottonseed in diets for dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 87:131-138.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing market demand for linters obtained from cottonseeds has stimulated interest in information about how mechanically delinted cottonseed compares to conventional linted cottonseed as a feedstuff in dairy diets. If mechanically delinted cottonseed has basically the same value as linted cottonseed for daiy cows, then the lint could be removed prior to marketing cottonseed to dairy producers. The objective of this study was to compare delinted cottonseed with conventional linted cottonseed in lactating cow diets. Eighty early lactation cows were divided into two groups, with each group fed one of two cottonseed sources. Milk production, milk composition, and overall cow health were monitored during the 112 day feeding trial. Fecal samples were collected to determine the amount of undigested cottonseed appearing in the feces for each of the two treatments. It was calculated that 2.5 and 1.5 % of the consumed seeds were excreted as whole cottonseeds in feces with the delinted and linted cottonseed diets, respectively. This difference in the amount of excreted seeds would have little nutritional significance. Mechanically delinted cottonseed performed as well as linted cottonseed for all of the cow performance and milk composition variables measured. The overall conclusion is that mechanical removal of lint from cottonseed does not reduce the feeding value of cottonseed for dairy cows. This is useful information for people marketing cottonseed or its component parts.

Technical Abstract: Performance of lactating dairy cows fed diets containing either mechanically delinted whole cottonseed or linted whole cottonseed was measured. Forty primiparous and 40 multiparous cows were fed a total mixed ration containing 13 % of one of the two cottonseed treatments. Dry matter intake and milk yield were measured daily, and milk composition every other week. Fecal grab samples were taken during weeks 3 and 13 of each period to estimate excretion of intact whole cottonseeds. Milk yield, 3.5 % fat-corrected milk, energy corrected milk, milk composition and dry matter intrake were not affected by cottonseed source. It was calculated that 2.5 and 1.5 % of the consumed seeds were excreted as whole cottonseeds in feces with the delinted and linted cottonseed diets, respectively. Although statistically significant, treatment differences in the proportion of intact seeds in the fecal dry matter would have little nutritional consequence. Mechanically delinted cottonseed performed as well as linted cottonseed for all of the cow performance and milk composition variables measured.