Will gossypol effect a whitetail deers ability to reproduce? We feed cottonseed meal in our preserve to boost protein levels during peak growing months which in Alabama is June-August. I have read studies from Texas in which they say this does not effect whitetail. Does anyone have any knowledge on this matter? Thanks so much.
Gossypol and cottonseed meal
- Thread starter jlunn14
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Gossypol is a toxic compound found in the cotton plant. It is concentrated in the cottonseed but can also be found in other parts of the cotton plant such as hulls, leaves, and stems. Gossypol exists in two forms: free and bound. The free form is toxic, whereas gossypol that binds to proteins is in the “bound” or non-toxic form.
It has been known to make males sterile.
It has been known to make males sterile.
Young deer are quite susceptible to gossypol toxicity. Even though like cattle, they are ruminents, their rumen is not considered to be fully functional and is unable to bind as much free gossypol as an adult deer.
Fawns less than four months of age are not recommended to have greater than 50ppm in their concentrate ration. From four months to one year, it is difficult to recommend certain levels because of all the variables involved. The older an animal is, the more gossypol it should be able to detoxify. However, 300-400ppm has caused toxicity in young ruminants. Usually they are on free choice rations. Rumen function is dependant on many factors, but age, amount and type of roughage the animal has received, and how early it was received, are very important. Binding of gossypol is also dependent on amount of available proteins.
Adult deer can tolerate much larger amounts of free gossypol but toxicity has been reported with levels of 600ppm fed over a long period of time. The problem with gossypol is the toxic effect seems to be cumulative. The longer they are on a ration that contains much gossypol, the more likely they are to have toxicity problems.
Symptoms
Since gossypol affects the heart, gossypol toxicity has been manifested as two types of clinical syndromes particularly in young animals. One syndrome of sudden death (resembling a heart attack) has frequently been reported in calves and lambs. These animals seem healthy, have good appetites and are often one of the best ones in the group, but are found dead. This has often been mistaken as “overeating” in lambs. Calves on cottonseed may die suddenly during, or right after transport because it is stressful to them. The other syndrome is one of chronic labored breathing which resembles pneumonia. Due to heart failure, the lungs fill up with fluid and breathing becomes very difficult. Since it is not an infection, these animals do not respond to antibiotics. Animals will be depressed, go off feed, may have a nasal discharge, may have red urine, and may have a thin but “pot-bellied” appearance in contrast to the animals that died suddenly that appeared healthy. This will usually affect more than one animal in a group.
Adult dairy cattle have exhibited symptoms of weakness, depression, loss of appetite, difficult breathing, blood in the urine, inflammation of the intestines, and reproductive problems. Deer research suggests the same type of issues. I won't feed cottonseed meal to my deer......why risk it?
Fawns less than four months of age are not recommended to have greater than 50ppm in their concentrate ration. From four months to one year, it is difficult to recommend certain levels because of all the variables involved. The older an animal is, the more gossypol it should be able to detoxify. However, 300-400ppm has caused toxicity in young ruminants. Usually they are on free choice rations. Rumen function is dependant on many factors, but age, amount and type of roughage the animal has received, and how early it was received, are very important. Binding of gossypol is also dependent on amount of available proteins.
Adult deer can tolerate much larger amounts of free gossypol but toxicity has been reported with levels of 600ppm fed over a long period of time. The problem with gossypol is the toxic effect seems to be cumulative. The longer they are on a ration that contains much gossypol, the more likely they are to have toxicity problems.
Symptoms
Since gossypol affects the heart, gossypol toxicity has been manifested as two types of clinical syndromes particularly in young animals. One syndrome of sudden death (resembling a heart attack) has frequently been reported in calves and lambs. These animals seem healthy, have good appetites and are often one of the best ones in the group, but are found dead. This has often been mistaken as “overeating” in lambs. Calves on cottonseed may die suddenly during, or right after transport because it is stressful to them. The other syndrome is one of chronic labored breathing which resembles pneumonia. Due to heart failure, the lungs fill up with fluid and breathing becomes very difficult. Since it is not an infection, these animals do not respond to antibiotics. Animals will be depressed, go off feed, may have a nasal discharge, may have red urine, and may have a thin but “pot-bellied” appearance in contrast to the animals that died suddenly that appeared healthy. This will usually affect more than one animal in a group.
Adult dairy cattle have exhibited symptoms of weakness, depression, loss of appetite, difficult breathing, blood in the urine, inflammation of the intestines, and reproductive problems. Deer research suggests the same type of issues. I won't feed cottonseed meal to my deer......why risk it?
Joined May 2009
2,369 Posts | 0+
Chillicothe, Missouri
Scott, You the MAN!!! Thanks for all the info you share with us. It certainly helps alot of folks on here!
We feed whole cotton seed to deer free choice on a 9,000 acre south Texas ranch along with free choice 20% pellets and corn out of spin feeders. Deer love it and seem to limit themselves as long as they are not starving. We feed it from January to September/October and let them run out to let the gossypol get out of the bucks system before the rut starts in December.
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