استفاده از پنبه دانه در جيره غذايي گوساله هاي نرپرواري

Utilization of Whole cottonseed in fattening ration of male calves

Digestibility coefficient of whole cottonseed was determined by in vivo method and total collection feces. The whole cottonseed degradability was determined by nylon bag method. A number of 12 Holstein bulls were used in a complete randomized design. The rations contained zero (control), seven, 14 and 21 percentages of whole cottonseed. During the experimental period, daily gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio and the carcass characteristics of bulls were measured. The whole cottonseed digestibility and degradability (in passage rate of five percent) was 69.4(±6) and 42.1 percent respectively. The effect of whole cottonseed on the dry matter intake, live body weight, daily gain and the weight of carcass (including internal fat), heart, lung, liver and kidneys were not significant (P>0.05). The effect of rations on feed conversion ratio and internal fat weight was significant (P<0.05). The results show that using up to 21 percent of whole cottonseed in male calves rations is possible with no adverse effect.