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Cotton Seed Feed

Massey University scientists have gained a substantial grant from the Australian Cotton Research and Development Corporation to research the value of cotton seed as an animal feed. The grant of $225,000 is for a four-year period.

The team is to investigate the processing of cotton seed meal, an important ingredient of animal feeds. They aim to produce a meal with the highest possible food value for both ruminants and monogastric, or single-stomached, animals such as pigs. The meal is made from cotton seed, a by-product of cotton fibre production.

At present there is some doubt as to whether a single industrial process can provide optimum nutritive value for both ruminant and monogastric species. In addition, current processing methods for cotton seed meal are quite harsh, and could affect nutritive value. Sixteen different techniques will be used to investigate various industrial production processes, using seed from a variety of species.

Dr Paul Moughan, director of the university's Monogastric Research Centre, said Massey University's strength in monogastric and ruminant digestion is unique in New Zealand and rare world wide. He sees the research as providing a good opportunity for Massey University scientists to develop evaluation techniques which can then be used on a wide variety of food ingredients.