Cottonseed Meal Diet Research Articles

Nutritional Value and Apparent Digestibility for Dry Matter, Protein, Energy and Essential Amino Acid in Ten Selected Feedstuffs for Juvenile Penaeus monodon

Nutritional values and apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter (ADMD), protein (APD), energy (AED) and amino acid (AAAD) of ten feedstuffs were determined for juvenile shrimp, which included Peruvian steam fish meal, Peruvian FAQ fish meal, local fish meal, soybean meal, peanut meal, shrimp head meal, cottonseed meal, rapeseed meal, wheat flour and brewer’s yeast. A reference diet and test diets that consisted of a 70:30 mixture of the reference diet to test feedstuff were used with 0.01% Yttrium oxide as an external marker. The eleven diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile Penaeus monodon (mean initial weight 1.13 g ± 0.02 g) for 56 days. After the 56-day trial, the highest and lowest values of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of shrimp were found in shrimp head meal and cottonseed meal diet treatments, respectively. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was in the range of 1.25-1.65. Peruvian steam fish meal and shrimp head meal diet treatments had the lowest FCR and cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal diet treatments had the highest FCR. The ADMD of diets is in the range of 63.52% to 80.07%. The values of ADMD in shrimp head meal and wheat flour diets (77.58% and 80.07%) were significantly higher than that in other diets (P<0.05). APD, AAAD and AED differed greatly among feedstuffs, from 82.2% to 110.5%, 88.26% to 103.37% and 64.5% to 97.6%, respectively. ADMD for the shrimp head meal, Peruvian FAQ fish meal and wheat flour were excellent (over 90%), while brewer’s yeast had lowest value of ADMD (under 60.52%). Peanut meal, cottonseed meal, rapeseed meal and brewer’s yeast had the lowest average AAAD (~90%). The average AAAD of Peruvian steam fish meal, Peruvian FAQ fish meal, local fish meal, soybean meal and shrimp head meal were nearly similar (95% to 99%). Wheat flour had the highest average AAAD (106%). In terms of ADMD, the most digestible ingredients were, in descending order, shrimp head meal, Peruvian FAQ fish meal, Peruvian steam fish meal, local fish meal for the marine feedstuffs; soybean meal and wheat flour are more preferable for P. monodon feed compared to other plant feedstuffs such as peanut meal, cottonseed meal and rapeseed meal.

Nutritional Value of electron beam irradiated cottonseed meal in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of electron beam-irradiated cottonseed meal on performance, carcass characteristics and some blood parameters of broiler chicks. Treatments were cottonseed meal (CSM) at levels of 12% and 24% (raw and irradiated at 30 kGy) and corn-soya bean meal diet (as control, without CSM and without irradiation) that used with five dietary treatments, four replicates and 10 birds of each for 42days in completely randomized design. Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded weekly. At 42days of age, two birds per pen were randomly selected for the determination of carcass characteristics and blood parameters. BWG decreased with increasing levels of dietary CSM during the experiment (p<0.05). In addition, radiation had significant positive effect in broilers fed 12% compared with those fed 24% CSM. FI in chicks fed control and diet containing 24% CSM were increased significantly in starter period. But FI was significantly decreased in broilers consumed CSM compare to the control in grower and during the experiment. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased with increasing levels of CSM in the diets. Relative weights of liver, gastrointestinal tract (GI), pancreas, gizzard and abdominal fat were increased by increasing levels of CSM in the diet (p<0.05). Glucose, cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride and phosphorous concentrations increased, and LDL concentration decreased as the dietary CSM levels increased (p<0.05). But radiation had not significant effect on blood parameters. Electron irradiation seems to be a good procedure to improve the nutritional quality of CSM, but it seems higher dose of it was needed to improve performance of chickens.

Replacing soybean meal for cottonseed meal on performance of lactating dairy cows

Cottonseed meal (CSM) is an alternative source of protein, and previous studies have been shown that it can replace soybean meal (SBM) without decrease animal performance. However, Brazilian CSM has a different chemical composition compared with the usual CSM reported in the literature. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of replacing SBM for Brazilian CSM on performance and energy balance of mid-lactating dairy cows. Forty-two Holstein cows were used in a replicate 3 × 3 Latin square design. Increasing contents of CSM (0, 15, and 30% of dry matter (DM)) were fed in diets to replace SBM. Milk yield and feed efficiency were linearly reduced with the replacement of CSM for SBM (P = 0.001). Milk fat content tended to increase quadratically (P = 0.07) with CSM addition. Replacing SBM for CSM affected milk protein content quadratically (P = 0.05). Milk urea nitrogen and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) tended to respond quadratically (P = 0.06 and 0.10) when CSM replaced SBM to the diets. Variation in body weight (BW) also responded quadratically as CSM replaced SBM (P = 0.05). Altogether, the findings suggest better performance when cows receive SBM diet compared with the Brazilian CSM diet.

Effects of lysine and methionine supplementation on growth, body composition and digestive function of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high-level canola meal

A 76-day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of Lysine and Methionine supplementation on growth and digestive capacity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high-level canola meal (CM). Fish with initial average weight 103.9 ± 0.6 g were fed three extruded diets. Fish meal (FM) diet was formulated as the normal control with 40 g kg−1 FM and 300 g kg−1 CM; CM diet was prepared by replacing all FM with CM (total 340 g kg−1) without Lys or Met supplementation; CM supplement (CMS) diet was similar to CM diet but was supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) to ensure the levels of Lys and Met similar to those in the FM diet. Feed intake, feed efficiency and specific growth rate of the grass carp fed CMS and FM diets were similar (P > 0.05), but higher than those of the grass carp fed CM diet (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index, relative gut length, intestosomatic index and intestinal folds height were significantly improved in fish fed FM and CMS diets as compared to CM diet (P < 0.05). Lower activities of trypsin, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed CM diet (P < 0.05). Three hundred and forty gram per kilogram CM without Lys or Met supplementation significantly decreased trypsin, lipase and amylase mRNA levels in hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the high supply of CM (340 g kg−1) in plant protein (200 g kg−1 soybean meal and 100 g kg−1 cottonseed meal) diets decreased digestive ability through decreasing digestive enzyme activities and enzyme gene's expressions of grass carp, and these side effects can be reversed by supplementing Lys and Met. Therefore, CM could be high level used in a plant protein blend-based extruded diet for grass carp as long as EAA were supplemented.

Feasibility of partial replacement of fishmeal with proteins from different sources in diets of Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted in an indoor recirculation seawater system to investigate the effects of partial replacement of dietary fishmeal with proteins from five sources on the growth performance and feed utilization of Sebastes schlegeli. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated using fishmeal (FM, the control) as sole protein source, or proteins from five sources including poultry by-product meal (PBM), meat and bone meal (MBM), soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM) and canola meal (CNM). Fifteen percent of the crude protein provided by fish meal was replaced, respectively. The results showed that the differences in specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rate (SR) among fish fed PBM, MBM, SBM, CSM and whole FM diets were not significant. However, SGR and SR of fish fed CNM diet was significantly lower than that of other treatments. Feeding rate, feed conversion, nutrient retention showed similar patterns to that of growth. Fish fed CSM and CNM showed significantly lower apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter and gross energy than those fed others while fish fed CNM showed lower ADC of crude protein than those fed others (P < 0.05). These results suggested that it was feasible to substitute 15% dietary protein provided by fishmeal with PBM, MBM, SBM and CSM, respectively, but not with CNM as the replacement with CNM reduced fish growth and feed utilization.

Effects of partially replacing dietary soybean meal or cottonseed meal with completely hydrolyzed feather meal (defatted rice bran as the carrier) on production, cytokines, adhesive gut bacteria, and disease resistance in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus ♀ × Oreochromis aureus ♂)

We formulated experimental diets for hybrid tilapia to investigate the effects of replacing dietary soybean meal (SBM) or cottonseed meal (CSM) by completely hydrolyzed feather meal (defatted rice bran as the carrier; abbreviated as CHFM), with emphasis on fish growth, the composition of adhesive gut bacteria, intestinal and hepatic immune responses, and disease resistance. A series of four isonitrogenous (33% crude protein) and isolipidic (6% crude lipid) diets were formulated to replace the isonitrogenous percentages of CSM or SBM by 6% or 12% CHFM. Quadruplicate groups of healthy and uniformly sized hybrid tilapia were assigned to each experimental diet. Fish were hand fed three times a day for 8 weeks at a rearing temperature of 25–28 °C. The growth performance of hybrid tilapia fed diets with partial replacement of dietary SBM or CSM with CHFM was comparable to the group of fish fed the control diet. The CHFM-containing diets affected the intestinal autochthonous bacterial community in similar ways. All CHFM-containing diets stimulated the expression of heat shock protein 70 in the intestine but suppressed its expression in the liver. Only the CHFM6/SBM diet stimulated the expression of interleukin-1β in intestine, and no effects were observed in all diets to the expression of interleukin-1β in liver. Thus, regarding the immune response in the intestine and liver, CHFM is a good alternative protein source that induces less stress in the host. CHFM did not affect disease resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in hybrid tilapia. These data suggest that CHFM is a good alternative to partially replace SBM and CSM in tilapia feed.

Effects of dietary gossypol concentration on growth performance, blood profiles, and hepatic histopathology in meat ducks

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of gossypol from cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth performance, blood biochemical profiles, and liver histopathology of ducks. A total of 900 1-d-old ducks were randomly allocated to 5 treatments with 12 pens/treatment and 15 ducks/pen. The 5 experimental diets were formulated in such a way that 0% (a corn-soybean meal basal diet, diet 1), 25% (diet 2), 50% (diet 3), 75% (diet 4), and 100% (diet 5) of protein from soybean meal were replaced with that from CSM. All diets were formulated on a digestible amino acid basis. The experiment included 2 phases, the starter phase (1 to 3 wk) where the test diets contained graded levels of CSM and the growth phase (4 to 5 wk) where birds were fed a corn-soybean basal diet to examine the recovery of ducks after CSM withdrawal. Dietary CSM and gossypol linearly (P < 0.01) and quadratically (P < 0.01) decreased ADG and ADFI during d 1 to 14. The threshold of daily total gossypol (TG) and free gossypol (FG) intake based on ADG on d 1 to 7 and d 7 to 14 were 32.20 and 2.64 mg/d, and 92.12 and 9.62 mg/d, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase increased (P < 0.05) linearly with increasing level of gossypol in the diets (d 7), whereas aspartate aminotransferase increased (P < 0.05) linearly and quadratically (d 14). Serum albumin concentration decreased (P < 0.05) quadratically with increasing dietary CSM concentrations on d 21. The degree of damage to the liver increased markedly with increasing dietary CSM and gossypol content and the length of CSM and gossypol intake. On d 35, there was no difference on BW and blood profiles of ducks among all treatments. These results suggest that meat ducks’ dietary TG and FG concentration should be lower than 928.9 and 77.2 mg/kg, respectively, during d 1 to 21 of age and that a 2-wk withdrawal of diets containing gossypol should be considered.

Effects of dietary cottonseed meal level on the growth, hematological indices, liver and gonad histology of juvenile common carp ( Cyprinus carpio )

Abstract Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets containing cottonseed meal (CM) levels of 0, 9, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54% (with the free gossypol (FG) levels of 0, 107.8, 215.7, 323.5, 431.3, 539.2 and 647.0 mg kg − 1 , respectively) were fed to juvenile common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) with initial body weight of 11.3 g for 8 weeks to evaluate the effects of dietary CM on growth performance, hematological indices, liver and gonad histology. When the dietary CM level ranged from 0% to 27%, the weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed no significant difference among groups ( P > 0.05), but when the CM level increased from 27% to 54%, the WG and protein efficiency ratio (PER) significantly decreased ( P P P P P > 0.05). Compared with the groups of 0% and 27% CM, the hepatocyte volume decreased, and the number of hepatocytes increased in the group of 54% CM, which also demonstrated the higher number of primary spermatocytes and the fewer sperm cells in the testis. Taken together, these results indicated that a safe level of CM in the juvenile carp diet was 27% (FG of 323.5 mg kg − 1 ) and broken-line model analysis based on WG showed the upper level of CM was 26.85%. The dietary cottonseed meals higher than 36% (431.3 mg kg − 1 FG) may damage growth performance and hematology. Furthermore, high levels of dietary CM (54% CM with FG of 647.0 mg kg − 1 ) may slightly impair the liver and decrease the number of sperm cells.

Effect of soybean meal replacement by cottonseed meal on growth, feed utilization and some blood physiological/biochemical indices of juvenile black carp,Mylopharyngodon piceus

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) for juvenile black carp. The inclusion levels of CSM were 0 (control), 96.6, 193.3, 289.8 and 386.5 g kg−1, in which 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of protein from SBM were replaced with that from CSM respectively. The results showed that up to 75% of SBM could be replaced by CSM without significant reduction in growth. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein, red blood cell and white blood cell count were significantly decreased with the increase in dietary CSM levels (P < 0.05). The activities of serum catalase (CAT), lysozyme (LSZ) and complement C3 were significantly lower than that of control group when dietary CSM level were increased to 386.5 g kg−1, 96.6 g kg−1 and 289.8 g kg−1 or higher respectively. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were significantly higher than that of control group when dietary CSM levels were increased to 289.8 g kg−1 or higher (P < 0.05). These results suggested that growth of black carp was not affected when CSM levels up to 289.8 g kg−1; however, negative influence on immune and liver function was found when CSM levels up to 96.6 g kg−1 and 289.8 g kg−1 respectively.

Effect of replacing soybean meal with cottonseed meal on growth, hematology, antioxidant enzymes activity and expression for juvenile grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) on growth and health of grass carp. Four isonitrogenous diets containing 0, 16.64, 32.73 and 48.94% of CSM, respectively, as replacements of 0, 35, 68 and 100% of SBM were fed to fish (initial body weight 7.14 ± 0.75 g/fish) in triplicate aquaria twice daily. The results indicated that fish fed diet containing 16.64% CSM as a replacement of 35% of SBM was not affected in weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio (FER) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P > 0.05), while fish fed diets containing higher level of dietary CSM (32.73 and 48.94%) significantly decreased WG and PER and significantly increased FCR (P < 0.05). Fish fed diets containing 16.64% of CSM had significantly increased hematocrit (Ht) and hemoglobin (Hb) values compared with fish fed with other diets (P < 0.05). The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), gene expression levels of GSH-Px and CAT, and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly lower for fish fed diets containing 16.64% CSM compared with fish fed other diets (P < 0.05). These results showed 16.64% CSM could be used to replace 35% SBM in the diets of juvenile grass carp and without health impact.

Effect of Dietary Cottonseed Meal on the Occurrence of Urolithiasis in Chinese Merino Sheep from Xinjiang Region (China): A Pilot Study

Effect of Dietary Cottonseed Meal on the Occurrence of Urolithiasis in Chinese Merino Sheep from Xinjiang Region (China): A Pilot Study

The effects of less-expensive plant protein sources replaced with soybean meal in the juvenile diet of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella): growth, nutrient utilization and body composition

In this study, the effects of less-expensive protein sources replaced with soybean meal on growth performance, nutrient utilization and body composition of juvenile grass carp were investigated. For this purpose, a control diet containing 42% soybean meal was prepared. Cotton seed meal (CSM), sunflower meal (SFM) and corn meal (CM) were added to the experimental diets by replacing 100% of the soybean meal protein used in the control diet. All diets were iso-nitrogenous (40% crude protein) and iso-caloric (19.5 MJ kg−1 gross energy). Each treatment had three replicates, and 20 juvenile grass carps (3.5 ± 0.1 g, initial weight) were located in per replicate. The fish were fed to satiety three times in a day during 3 months at 26°C of water temperature in glass aquarium (45 l). The results of the study showed that the weight gain (308.6–448.6%), specific growth rate (1.56–1.89%/day), feed conversion rate (1.2–1.9), protein efficiency ratio (1.32–2.08), and apparent digestibility coefficients of protein (80.5–89%) or sum of amino acids (80.5–88.9%) were not significantly affected by the experimental diets, except diet CM. All of these values obtained for the diet CM were significantly lower than those of fish fed on the control, CSM and SFM diets. However, there were no significant differences between the lipid digestibility of the diets, and crude protein, lipid, and gross energy contents in the whole body of fish in experiments. In conclusion, CSM and SFM diets were highly utilized by juvenile grass carp, but not CM diet. These results combined with the remarkable acceptability of diets containing high levels of plant protein ingredients with identical growth performances of juvenile grass carp show clearly that dietary soybean meal level can be considerably reduced without any adverse consequence in terms of somatic growth and nitrogen utilization.

English

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of autoclaving and different doses of gamma irradiation on the apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids of cottonseed meal in male broiler breeders. Samples were irradiated in a gamma cell at total doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy. One package (control) was left at room temperature: Similar to the other treatments, evaporation decreased the moisture content of the samples. Autoclaving of cottonseed meal for 15 min at 121&deg;C was studied. The treatments were:&nbsp;(1) control, untreated cottonseed meal diet;&nbsp;(2) autoclaved cottonseed meal diet;&nbsp;(3) cottonseed meal diet gamma irradiated at a dose of 15 kGy;&nbsp;(4) cottonseed meal diet gamma irradiated at a dose of 30 kGy;&nbsp;(5) cottonseed meal&nbsp;diet gamma irradiated at a dose of 45 kGy. The results show&nbsp;that autoclaving for 15 min at 121&deg;C did not have&nbsp;a statistically significant effect on the apparent ileal digestibility of the amino acids in cottonseed meal when compared with the control treatment. The results also show that gamma irradiation of cottonseed meal were not effective in increasing the apparent digestibility of amino acids. In addition, irradiation of cottonseed meal did not improve the apparent digestibility of amino acids in comparison with the other processing methods only, but also significantly decreased it (p&lt;0.05). &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Gamma irradiation, digestibility, amino acid, cottonseed meal, broiler.

Effects of dietary cottonseed meal protein levels on growth and feed utilization of Nile &lt;i&gt;tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L&lt;/i&gt;

The nutritional suitability and cost effectiveness of cottonseed meal (CSM) as protein source in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) with mean initial weight 4.24±0.20 g, was evaluated over a 56-day growth period. Four isonitrogenous (320 g kg-1), isolipidic (100 g kg-1) and isoenergetic (18 KJ g-1) test diets were formulated in which CSM protein replaced fish meal (FM) protein at levels of 0% (control), 25%, 50% and 75%. The control diet had FM as the sole protein source. The growth experiment was conducted in plastic tanks in a recirculation system each dietary treatment was in triplicate. After 56 days of feeding fish at 6% - 4% body weight per day, CSM protein replacements of 25% and 50% did not significantly (P

Effect of replacing dietary fish meal by cottonseed meal on growth performance and feed utilization of the Nile tilapia, (Oreochromis niloticus)

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of partial or complete replacement of the fish meal (FM) by cotton seed meal (CSM) in diets of Nile tilapia, Orcochromis niloticus, to reduce feed costs. Therefore, fiveexperimental diets contained 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% CSM as replacements of FM. The final body weight decreased with increasing the level of replacing FM by CSM. However, the replacement of 25% of FM by CSM had no significanteffect on the final BW, while the higher replacing levels (50, 75 or 100%) significantly (P<0.05) reduced the final BW of the Nile tilapia and the same trend was also observed for body length, weight gain, specific growth rate, feedintake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio.At the experimental termination (90 days), the highest condition factor (K) value was recorded for fish fed on diet 2 (CSM 25%), followed in a descending order by those fed on the control diet, D1 (CSM 0%); D5 (CSM 100%); D3(CSM 50%) and D4 (CSM 75%) respectively. Moreover among the other levels, the final K values of the Nile tilapia were not significantly affected by replacing levels of dietary FM by CSM.Hematocrit and haemoglobin values (hematological parameters) were almost decreased proportionally with increasing the dietary CSM protein level. Comparedwith fish fed the control diet (CSM0), all replacing levels of FM by CSMsignificantly (P<0.05) decreased He matocrit and haemoglobin values and the largest declines occurred for fish fed diets containing 50-100% CSM protein replacements. Values of serum transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase, AST and alanine aminotransferase, ALT) almost increased with each increase in CSM level as a substitute for FM in Nile tilapia diets. Results of proximate analysis of the whole fish body showed that as thedietary CSM level increased, protein content significantly (P<0.05) decreased while the opposite trend was observed for fat content where the increasing levels of CSM in the experimental diets significantly (P<0.05) increased fat content ofthe whole fish body. The inclusion of 25% CSM in the experimental diets had no significant effect on ash content while the other replacing levels (50, 75 and 100%) significantly reduced ash content of whole fish body.

Chemical composition and microstructure of uroliths associated with the feeding of high-level cottonseed meal diet to sheep

The chemical composition and microstructure of five urolith samples (4 bladder stones and one kidney stone) associated with the feeding of high level of cottonseed meal (CSM) diet to Chinese merino fine wool sheep (Junken breed, Xinjiang) were examined by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy analysis. The bladder stone samples appeared yellow or white, small powder and loose mass, and as finely granular under the optical microscope. However, the kidney stone samples from a experimental sheep were found as small brown mass, higher hardness, and as a cracklike structure. Oxygen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were found as four major elements in these uroliths by X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Potassium magnesium phosphate (MgKPO 4) and potassium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (MgKPO 4·6H 2O) were major components in the bladder stones, while less magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH 4PO 4·6H 2O) examined by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analysis. However, the newly found prismatic crystals, which were rich in magnesium and pyrophosphate, were identified as magnesium pyrophosphate (Mg 2P 2O 7) in the kidney stone. The bladder stone samples appeared irregular mass and balls, cracked under SEM with low magnification, while appeared cracked, irregular layer-like, honeycomb-like or tiny balls under high magnification. The kidney stone samples were observed as cone, irregular block or layered crystal structures.

Effect of dietary graded levels of cottonseed meal and gossypol on growth performance, body composition and health aspects of allogynogenetic silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio♀ × Cyprinus carpio♂

A 6-month trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary cottonseed meal (CSM) and free gossypol (FG) on allogynogenetic silver crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio♀ × Cyprinus carpio♂ with 4 replicates of each treatment. Isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated with the 0 g kg−1 (control), 200 g kg−1, 400 g kg−1, and 560 g kg−1 CSM. Diets with FG were made by supplementing batches of control diet with 214 mg kg−1, 428 mg kg−1, and 642 mg kg−1. Weight gain, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio increased significantly up to an inclusion level of CSM of 400 g kg−1 in the diet, with a significant decrease in food conversion ratio. Further increase in CSM to 560 g kg−1 did not cause further changes in fish performance. Free gossypol did not affect fish performance significantly at any inclusion level. Neither CSM nor FG caused significant effects in any of the other evaluated parameters such as whole body composition, haemoglobin concentration, activities of serum lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and histology of hepatic tissues and midgut. Our results suggested that crucian carp can tolerate at least 642 mg kg−1 FG and that it is safe to including 400 g kg−1 CSM in crucian carp feed.

Effects of partial and complete replacement of soybean meal with cottonseed meal on growth, feed utilization and haematological indexes for mono-sex male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) fingerlings

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) on the growth performance, feed utilization and haematological parameters of mono-sex male Nile tilapia fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous diets (containing 31.82% crude protein) containing graded levels of CSM to replace SBM protein were fed to triplicate groups of fish. The diets were supplemented with lysine so that they were similar to the control diet. After a 14-week feeding experiment, the results revealed that up to 75% of SBM could be replaced by CSM without causing a significant reduction in growth. Fish fed the diet highest in CSM had a significantly lower protein efficiency ratio and a significantly higher feed conversion ratio than fish fed the other diets. High survival was observed in all the dietary treatments, and no significant difference was observed among treatments. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of dry matter and phosphorus decreased significantly with an increase in the dietary CSM level, whereas the ADC of lipid was not affected by the dietary treatment. The hepatosomatic index and the condition factor were significantly affected by the replacement of SBM by CSM. No significant differences were detected in the moisture, lipid and ash content in whole body and muscle samples, but protein in whole-body samples was significantly affected by the CSM levels. Significant differences were found in the haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell and white blood cell contents in fish fed diets with different CSM levels. Therefore, these findings suggest that up to 41.25% CSM can be used to replace 75% of SBM protein in diets for mono-sex male Nile tilapia fingerlings without any adverse effects on the growth performance, feed utilization, body composition and haematological indexes.

Olive cake usage as an alternative to cotton seed meal in dairy goat feeding

This study was carried out on 23 heads of Damascus (Shami) goats to investigate the utilization of olive cake in (OC) dairy goat feeding as an alternative to cotton seed meal (CSM) at Research Farm of Mustafa Kemal University. Animals, having similar live weight and homogenity for milk yield according to the first lactation (202.2 ± 10.30 kg per lactation), were assigned into three groups. Goats in each group were fed with 1 kg of concentrate in different composition in addition to pasture per day. Each concentrate of the groups had got same ingredients in similar amount except for olive cake and cotton seed meal. At the end of the study it was determined that the replacement of olive cake to cotton seed meal decreased fat (P 0.05). In conclusion, we can suggest that lactating Damascus goats could be fed with 10% OC and 10% CSM diets without any negative effects on milk composition and yield. Also usage of olive cake was recommended in goat diets because of its cost. Key words: Shami goats, olive cake, cotton seed meal, milk production.

Partial replacement of fish meal by cottonseed meal and soybean meal with iron and phytase supplementation for parrot fish Oplegnathus fasciatus

Two consecutive feeding trials were conducted to determine the optimum dietary level of the cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) for replacement of fish meal (FM) in diets for juvenile and ongrowing parrot fish with or without iron and phytase. In experiment I, juvenile parrot fish (BW: 3.17 g) were fed one of six experimental diets for 12 weeks which were formulated to replace FM protein by equal proportion (1:1, w:w) of CS at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% (designated as CS0, CS10, CS20, CS30, CS40, or CS50, respectively). In experiment II, ongrowing parrot fish (BW: 55 g) were fed one of five experimental diets for 9 weeks. The experimental diets were formulated to replace FM protein by CS at 0, 20, or 30% (designated as CS0, CS20, or CS30, respectively) and to include ferrous sulfate (0.1 and 0.2%) and phytase into the CS20 and CS30 diets (CS20 + Fe&P and CS30 +Fe&P, respectively). Results from the two feeding trials indicated that the CS could replace up to 20% FM protein in diets for juvenile parrot fish (3–22 g) and up to 30% in ongrowing (55–120 g) parrot fish. The supplemental effect of iron and phytase was not significant on growth performance. Total or each gossypol enantiomer concentration in the liver increased as the level of dietary cottonseed meal increased. However, gossypol in the liver of fish fed diets supplemented with iron was not detected. The dietary supplementation of CS significantly reduced the levels of plasma triacyglycerols and total cholesterol. The present study indicates that plant protein sources are better utilized in larger fish, and that up to approximately 30% FM protein could be replaced by CS with iron and phytase in the presence of supplemental lysine and methionine.