Effect of Gossypol from Cottonseed Meal Diets on Some Clinico-biochemical Parameters and Humoral Immune Response of Crossbred Calves Fed Barley or Sorghum

Abstract

Effects of feeding of 9.95 mg free gossypol/kg live weight through cottonseed meal (CSM) were studied in 20 intact male calves fed barley or sorghum as source of cereal during the experimental duration of 210 days. Serum concentration of total protein, albumin, globulin and their ratio did not vary because of protein (gossypol) or cereal sources. Serum level of cholesterol and urea were lower (p<0.05) in sorghum than barley fed calves. Feeding of gossypol through CSM enhanced (p<0.05) serum cholesterol. An interaction between protein and period was observed with respect to serum concentrations of urea, creatinine and alanine transferase. The levels of serum creatinine and alanine transferase increased (p<0.05) following 120 days of experimental feeding in calves fed CSM diets compared to the control animals fed groundnut meal diets. No effect of feeding gossypol was, however, evident on the serum enzymes viz. alanine and aspartate transferases and alkaline phosphatase. Moreover, the source of cereal and protein did not appear to influence the metabolic profile of the calves. Humoral immune response, measured through antibody titre against Brucella abortus S99 innoculation, revealed a delayed and depressed seroreactivity indicative of immunocompromisation because of the phytotoxin gossypol. In conclusion, the feeding of gossypol at the designated levels, although had no deleterious clinico-biochemical manifestations, affected the humoral immune response of the calves. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 9 : 1291-1296)