The effect of drought feeding with whole cottonseed, and vitamin therapy, on the serum lipids and liveweight changes of beef cattle in North-western Australia

Abstract

An experiment with 79 Shorthorn cattle was carried out in the Kimberley region of north-western Australia, to study the influence of drought feeding with whole cottonseed, and of vitamin therapy, on blood lipid components and liveweight changes in cattle during the dry season. The blood serum levels of total, free, and esterified cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids were elevated as a result of cottonseed supplementation, as compared with levels at the end of the following wet season. In general the levels of these blood lipids were higher in the animals fed on cottonseed for longer periods. Neither the level of free fatty acids nor the ratio of free to esterified cholesterol was affected significantly by cottonseed supplementation. Liveweight responses were proportional to the duration of the supplementation period. There were no differences in liveweight changes or the blood components measured which could be attributed to vitamin therapy.