The Effect of Processing Conditions on the Nutritive Value of Cottonseed Meal for Poultry —A Review

INTRODUCTION FOR purposes of trading and incorporation into feed formulas, cottonseed meal is considered a uniform product of protein content which can be adjusted within the range of 36 to 43 percent (Morrison, 1949; Ward, 1953). Protein content is defined as nitrogen content multiplied by a factor, 6.25. Cottonseed meal is an excellent source of protein for cattle and dairy feeding. Its use in feeding poultry and consequently the amount of it which would be incorporated in mixed feeds has been limited, however. It is generally recommended that not over 10 percent of cottonseed meal be used in poultry feeds for growing chicks (Hale and Lyman, 1948). The recommendations and restrictions on cottonseed meal are directed apparently at every type of meal produced. Actually cottonseed meal is produced by several different methods which may be classed into three types: hydraulic pressing, screw-pressing, and solvent extraction. In the hydraulic press method, …