Penicillin, Lysine, Methionine and Fish Solubles Supplement a Corn-Degossypolized Cottonseed Meal Ration for Weanling Pigs

Abstract

The corn-“degossypolized” cottonseed meal ration fortified with minerals, vitamin A, D, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, choline and B12 although producing no typical symptoms of gossypol toxicity, did not support optimum performance. Neither 0.2 percent dl-lysine nor 3 percent condensed fish solubles significantly increased this rate of gain in one test. In a second test 3 percent fish solubles resulted in a highly significant increased growth rate. The growth rate of pigs fed 0.4 percent dl-lysine was 0.32 pounds per day faster than that made by pigs fed a comparable ration without lysine. The further addition of 0.5 percent dl-methionine to the corn-cottonseed meal ration plus lysine resulted in a significantly faster average daily gain than that made by pigs in group 1. When one-half the cottonseed meal was replaced by solvent soybean oil meal the rate of gain was significantly increased. When only one-fourth the cottonseed meal was replaced by soybean oil meal, gains were not as satisfactory as when one-half the cottonseed meal was replaced. The further addition of penicillin significantly improved the rate of gain and appearance of pigs. Although degossypolized cottonseed meal did not produce an optimum growth rate when fed as the only protein supplement to pigs, it is significant that the toxicity has been reduced to an extent that larger amounts can be incorporated in the ration. Consequently, its value as a protein supplement can be more readily determined.