Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99306
Title: EFFECT OF (+)- AND (-)-GOSSYPOL IN COTTONSEED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THREE-WEEK-OLD BROILER CHICKENS

Author
item Stipanovic, Robert - Bob
item BAILEY, C - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item KIM, H - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Kubena, Leon
item MACEDO, R - CMPA EMBRACA

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A glanded cottonseed which contained 62 percent of (+)-gossypol and 38 percent of (-)-gossypol, and a glanded cottonseed which contained 83 percent of (+)-gossypol and 17 percent of (-)-gossypol were fed to three-week-old broilers. Growth performance and cumulative feed conversion ratios (CFCR) of these broilers were compared both to broilers raised on glandless cottonseed and to broilers raised on a diet containing no cottonseed. Cottonseed was added to the diets at either 5 percent or 10 percent, and total levels of gossypol in the glanded cottonseed was 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent. Broilers raised on the diet containing the highest level of the (-)-isomer, gained less weight and exhibited the highest CFCR. Furthermore, broilers fed the highest level of the (-)-isomer had relative liver weights higher than other birds in the study. Birds fed the 5 percent cottonseed with the higher level of the (+)-gossypol were not different with respect to weight gain or CFCR than the control birds fed the glandless cottonseed or the birds fed the diet with no cottonseed. However, the birds fed the 5 percent cottonseed with the lower level of (+)-gossypol weighted less and had a higher CFCR than the control birds. This study showed an apparent link between toxicity and the (-)-isomer of gossypol to broilers. Developing a cotton with a high percentage of (+)-gossypol in the seed, could offer a new market for cottonseed.