PS13-16. The Effect of Whole Cottonseed as a Supplemental Feedstuff on the Performance of Cows in Cow-Calf Production Systems: A Review.

Abstract

In the southern United States, cotton is a common cash crop which, after processing, has several byproducts that can be used in beef cattle diets, such as whole cottonseed (WCS). Whole cottonseed is a widely available, nutritious, and cost-effective feed option for beef cattle. According to the NRC (2016), WCS consists of about 52% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 24% crude protein (CP), and 18% crude fat. Whole cottonseed is routinely utilized in cow-calf production systems as substitution for nutrients that are lacking in the basal diet. However, there is an opportunity to use WCS as a supplemental feed to enhance performance due to its energy and protein density. This review aimed to synthesize the body of literature to determine the optimal utilization of WCS in cow-calf systems and its impact on animal performance. The review was conducted through a systematic title and abstract search of Agricola, CAB Abstracts, and Web of Science. Keywords in the search included cow, heifer, or calf, cotton, and supplement. A total of 241 manuscripts were retrieved from Agricola, 1607 from CAB Abstracts, and 563 from Web of Science. After removal of duplicates, 1602 manuscripts were passed to title and abstract screening. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, with a third reviewer acting as a tie-break. Results from this review found that WCS remains a effective supplemental feed due to its high energy and protein value. However, considerations should be made due to its inhibitory effects of dry matter digestibility (DMD) and concentration of gossypol. Studies have suggested that due to its high fat content, cattle consuming high amounts of WCS will self-limit intake.