LOW GOSSYPOL COTTONSEED MEAL AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SOYBEAN-MEAL IN BROILER DIETS

A feeding trial involving 236 broiler chicks was carried out to determine the effects of replacing in the diets, soybean meal (SBM) with a low gossypol cottonseed meal (CSM). 2 diets formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric were fed up to 42 days of age. The control diet contained as protein source 19 % SBM in the starter period and 17 % in the grower period. In the experimental diet, SBM was fully replaced with CSM. Substituting CSM for SBM in the rations did not have any significant effect on the weight gain of the chicks at 3 weeks or 6 weeks of age (P > 0.05). Considering the overall period (0 days to 42 days), there were no significant differences between treatments in feed intake and in feed efficiency (P > 0.05), however, birds fed on CSM diets tended to use their feed more efficiently. The CSM rations contained 126 mg gossypol/kg and 113 mg gossypol/kg in the starter and the grower period, respectively. However, no detrimental effect was observed on the mortality rate of the chicks.