Physiological evaluation of solvent-treated cottonseed meals in rations for laying hens

Two commercial cottonseed meals, a direct solvent-extracted meal and a screw-pressed meal, were subjected to successive solvent-extraction procedures by using an acetone/hexane/water azeotrope to reduce their cyclopropenoid fatty acid content. The two original commercial meals, as well as a double- and triple-extracted portion, were then incorporated at 20 wt % levels in the rations of laying hens. A negative control containing 25% soybean meal and a positive con-trol containing 2 % refined cottonseed oil of known CPA content were also employed. During a four-week feeding period the eggs were collected dur-ing the third and fourth week and stored at 35F for periods of three and six months. Over-all egg quality and the fatty acid distribution of the extracted yolk lipids were determined after the three- and six-month storage period.