- Occurs due to consumption of cottonseed or cottonseed products that contain excess free gossypol and can affect high-producing dairy cows with high feed intake.
- Also affect other mature ruminants fed excess gossypol for long periods of time.
SYMPTOMS
- Irregular cycling in cows and buffaloes, reduced libido in males.
- Weight loss, weakness, anorexia, and susceptibility to stress.
- Adult dairy cattle may show weakness, depression, anorexia, edema of the brisket, and dyspnea, and also have gastroenteritis, hemoglobinuria, and reproductive problems.
CONTROL
- Remove cottonseed products from the diet immediately. Severely affected animals may still die even 2 weeks after stopping feeding of cottonseed products.
- Poor weight gains in affected livestock and increased susceptibility to stress may persist for several weeks after cottonseed products are removed from the diet.
- A high-quality diet supplemented with lysine, methionine, and fat-soluble vitamins should be included in supportive therapy.
- Consult a veterinarian for further advise
ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP, NATIONAL DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD, ANAND
