Cottonseed with a high (+)- to (-)-gossypol enantiomer ratio favorable to broiler production

This study was designed to evaluate the relative toxicity of (+) and (-)-go ssypol enantiomers in 0-3-week-old broilers. Treatments consisted of broile r starter diets formulated with either a glandless, which did not contain g ossypol, a commercial glanded [62.2% (+)-gossypol], or a glanded moco [83.2 % (+)-gossypol] crushed cottonseed (CCS) (six replicates/treatment) plus a soybean meal negative control. Glandless cottonseed was mixed with the moco cottonseed (2.4% free gossypol) so that both the commercial glanded and mo co glanded cottonseeds contained equivalent concentrations of free gossypol (2.0%). The cottonseed treatments were added at 5 and 10% of the diet. Bod y weights and feed conversions were determined weekly. Body weights and fee d-to-gain ratios of broilers fed 5 and 10% glandless CCS and 5% moco CCS we re not significantly different. Broilers receiving 10% commercial glanded C CS weighed significantly less than those subjected to all other treatments. Feed-to-gain ratios were significantly higher for broilers receiving 10% c ommercial glanded and 10% moco CCS as compared to 5% moco and glandless CCS , 10% glandless CCS, and control. Relative liver weights of birds receiving 10% moco CCS were significantly less than those of birds receiving 10% com mercial CCS. The data clearly showed that broilers fed moco CCS containing a relatively high (+)- to (-)-gossypol enantiomer ratio performed better th an broilers receiving commercial CCS with a lower (+)- to (-)-gossypol enan tiomer ratio.