Effect of ammoniation on the nutritive value of cottonseed fed to lactating dairy cows

An experiment was designed to determine the effect of feeding ammoniated cottonseed to lactating cows. For this purpose, twelve Holstein cows near their peak of lac­ tation were selected. They were divided in four, different groups and randomly assigned to a double reversal experi­ mental design. The following basic rations were fed: I— control (50% alfalfa, 50% concentrate); II— untreated cotton­ seed (30% of the concentrate replaced by cottonseed); III— 30% of concentrate replaced with cottonseed treated with 1.5% ammonia; IV— 30% of concentrate replaced with cotton­ seed treated with 2.25% ammonia. No significant differences (p < .05) were found for milk production, and solids-not-fat. However, milk fat percentage was raised approximately 0.5% by the addition of cottonseed. Protein content of milk was depressed by the untreated cottonseed. No significant differences were observed for the digestibilities of fiber and fat. However, significant dif­ ferences were noted for the digestibilites of dry matter, protein and combustible energy. All were increased by the high ammonia treatment as compared to the untreated cotton­