Iron sulfate and feed pelleting to detoxify free gossypol in cottonseed diets for dairy cattle.

Thirty-two lactating cows were fed ad libitum diets with 1) 18.7% soybean meal, 2) diet 1 plus 500 ppm supplemental Fe from FeSO4.H2O, 3) 15% whole cottonseed, or 4) diet 3 plus 500 ppm Fe from FeSO4.H2O. Dry matter intakes were similar except for cows fed diet 2, which was lower. Cows fed whole cottonseed diets ingested 23 g/d of free gossypol per cow. Free gossypol apparently excreted was lower than its intake. Iron excretion was similar to Fe intake. Blood metabolites and productive performance did not differ among the diet groups. No signs of gossypol toxicity were observed. Twelve neonatal Holstein male calves were fed a commercial milk replacer for 4 wk, then were allowed ad libitum access to diets with 1) 27% soybean meal, 2) 50% whole cottonseed, or 3) diet 2 plus 500 ppm Fe from FeSO4.H2O. Dry matter intakes were similar but slightly lower for calves fed diet 3. Daily individual intakes of free gossypol from diets 2 and 3 were 2 g, which was lower than the expected 4 g due to an apparent effect of pelleting. Blood metabolites did not differ among the groups, and calves averaged about .6 kg of daily gain on these diets. A follow-up study showed that pelleting reduced free gossypol by as much as 70% in whole cottonseed and by 48% in cottonseed meal. Pelleting represents a mechanism to decrease the toxicity of gossypol in cottonseed products.