Matondi et al., 2007. Livest. Res. Rural Dev, 19 (11)

The effect of feeding graded levels of cottonseed meal in goat rations on erythrocyte membrane osmotic fragility was examined. Goats (n=16) were randomly assigned to four diets according to age groups. The diets were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic and contained 0, 8, 16, and 24% cottonseed meal. Blood samples were collected at the start of the experiment and after every two weeks for the next six weeks. Erythrocyte membrane osmotic fragility increased (P<0.001) in diets containing cottonseed meal. Erythrocyte membrane osmotic fragility was greater (P<0.001) in high gossypol containing diets, 24 >16 >8% cottonseed meal (CSM) and increased with exposure time. Erythrocyte membrane osmotic fragility differed among diets and increased with increasing gossypol intake. Erythrocyte fragility for diets with 0% and 8% CSM was less than 10% and ranged between 14.6 and 26.43% for diets with 16 and 18% CSM in week six. Erythrocyte fragility was less than 5% for all the diets in week one. Gossypol toxicity was not observed. The absence of gossypol toxicity in these animals was attributed to the low free gossypol content of the diets, reduced intake with time and to the detoxification of free gossypol in the rumen.