Lewis, A. W.

Mapel, S. L.

Neuendorff, Don A.

Randel, R. D.

English

Texas A&amp;M Repository

    PUBLICATIONS 2004 EFFECT OF COTTONSEED MEAL CONSUMPTION ON PERFORMANCE OFFEMALE FALLOW DEERS. L. Mapel, D. A. Neuendorff, A. W. Lewis, and R. D. RandelBackground. Whole cottonseed and cottonseed meal are commonly used as animalfeedstuffs, providing a low cost source of protein and energy. However, cottonseed products arelimited as an animal feedstuff due to the toxic nature of gossypol. Gossypol is a chemicalproduced by the pigment glands of the cotton plants and is generally concentrated in the seeds.Gossypol content of cottonseed is generally reduced during processing. Free gossypol contentvaries depending on the processing method. Average free gossypol content resulting from thedirect solvent, expeller, and expander solvent methods of processing are 0.30%,0.04%, and0.10%, respectively. Ruminant animals (i.e. sheep, goats, cattle, and deer) are generally moreresistant to gossypol poisoning than single stomach animals (i.e. pigs). However, research hasdemonstrated too large a quantity of free gossypol can be harmful to ruminants. Body weightloss, anemia, infertility, and death are a few symptoms of gossypol poisoning in ruminants. In200 I, research conducted at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and ExtensionCenter, Overton, TX showed that feeding free choice whole cottonseed (2 Ib per animal per day;10.0·g·free gossypol'animarl'day-l) negatively impacted body weight, body condition, antlermass, and testosterone concentrations of fallow bucks. In recent years there has been an increasein the use of cottonseed products in the supplemental feeding of both wild and farmed deerpopulations. Further research was necessary to determine the effects as well as safe levels of freegossypol consumption in female deer.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cottonseed meal (0.09% freegossypol) consumption on body weight, body condition, pregnancy rate, and progesteroneconcentrations in fallow does.Research Findings. Sixty-six fallow deer were separated into three groups containing22 animals (20 does, 2 bucks). Each group was housed on 2 acre Coastal bermudagrass pasturesand fed daily. The soybean meal group was fed 0.79 Ib of soybean meal per animal per day(Table I). The low cottonseed meal group was fed 0.39 Ib of soybean meal and 0.50 Ib ofcottonseed meal per animal per day (Table I). The high cottonseed meal group was fed 1.00 Ib ofcottonseed meal per animal per day (Table I). The diet of each group varied in respect to theamount of gossypol it contained (Table 2). Beginning 8/14/03, body weight, body conditionscore, and blood samples were collected weekly until I 1/20/03. Marking harnesses were placed101on bucks prior to the breeding season and heat marks were used to determine breeding dates.Ultrasonography was used for pregnancy determination.Fallow deer are seasonal breeding animals that generally lose weight through the fall andwinter. All animals lost weight from 8/14/03 to 11120/03. The soybean meal group lost lessweight than either of the cottonseed meal groups (Table 2). Final body weights were 2% higherfor the soybean meal group. Body condition scores did not differ among groups. Conceptionrates were 100% for all groups. Time to re-breeding did not differ among groups. Progesteroneconcentrations in the high cottonseed meal group were reduced as compared to the soybean mealgroup and low cottonseed meal group. Within groups, does with heavier body weights atweaning had shorter times to re-breeding than lighter does.Application. It appears that cottonseed meal can be ofvalue for the supplementation offallow deer and likely other deer species as well. However, careful consideration must be givento the amount of gossypol consumed to avoid harmful effects. Daily free gossypol intake offallow deer should be limited to no more than 0.41 grams per animal.Table 1. Dry matter feed supplementation by group.Treatment Supplement aAs fed amt (lb/an/day)SBMG SBM 0.79Protein (g)144.9TDN (g)255.0CSML SBMCSMTotal0.390.500.8968.667.5136.1127.5131.5259.0CSMH CSM 1.00 135.0aReported in "as fed amounts", pounds per animal per day.262.9Table 2. Free gossypol intake, average daily gain, and average body condition score of fallowdoes.TreatmentSBMGFree Gossypol0.00 0.00aADG (Ib)-0.11bAvgBCS5.3CSML 0.20 3.95 -0.16 5.2CSMH 0.41 8.10 -0.17 5.3aAverage daily gain (ADG) from 8/14/03 to 11120/03 was greater (P<.OI) for SBMG thanCSML or CSMH.bNo difference (P>.I) detected in Average Body Condition Score (BCS) (Scale 1-10) from8/14/03 to 11120/03102

Effect of cottonseed meal consumption on performance of female fallow deer

Texas A&M University

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/189571/1/article111.pdf

Effect of cottonseed meal consumption on performance of female fallow deer

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Texas A&M Repository

Texas A&M University

Effect of cottonseed meal consumption on performance of female fallow deer

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Repository