Cottonseed

Cottonseed is the seed of cotton plants in the genus Gossypium. It is a byproduct of cotton fiber production and is processed for oil and meal. On average, cottonseed contains about 18 to 25 percent oil and around 23 to 25 percent protein, with the remainder being carbohydrate and fiber. The seed also harbors gossypol, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound that protects the plant against pests but can be toxic to non-ruminant animals in sufficient quantities. Gossypol levels vary by variety and processing method.

Cottonseed is processed by pressing or solvent extraction to produce cottonseed oil, which is refined for edible and industrial uses. The residual cake or meal is used mainly as a protein-rich animal feed, especially for ruminant livestock. The hulls can be used as a roughage component or as a feed ingredient after processing. To reduce anti-nutritional factors, seeds may be dehulled, and low-gossypol or glandless varieties are increasingly used to expand the range of eligible livestock diets. Monogastric animals (pigs, poultry) are more sensitive to gossypol, so inclusion rates are limited or avoided with standard cottonseed products.

Global production is concentrated in major cotton-growing regions, with large producers including India, China, the United States, Pakistan, and Brazil. Cottonseed oil is a widely used edible oil, while cottonseed meal provides a protein supplement in animal production systems, subject to regulatory limits on gossypol content and storage to prevent aflatoxin and spoilage.