Cottonseed meal as a source of protein in diets for laying hens

Abstract

Diets containing graded levels of cottonseed meal (0, 5, 10, and 15 per cent) have been compared when fed to laying pullets for seven months. The influence of ferrous sulphate and lysine supplements was also investigated. As the proportion of cottonseed meal in the diet increased, production of eggs, egg weight, and specific gravity decreased, while feed consumption per dozen eggs and Haugh Index increased. Cottonseed 413 meal treatments resulted in darker egg yolks and depressed hatchability. Neither lysine nor ferrous sulphate influenced egg production, but ferrous sulphate significantly reduced the incidence of dark yolks and increased the mean hatchability. Analysis of cottonseed meal indicated that the gossypol content of the diets was less than the minimum previously reported to have a detrimental effect on egg production. It was concluded that cottonseed meal could not be used as a major protein supplement in layer diets.