Cotton gin by-products: an economical feed resource for ruminant livestock

Livestock farming plays a crucial role in the livelihood of rural farmers in India. However, the shortage of quality fodder and increasing feed costs remain major constraints affecting livestock productivity. To overcome these challenges, the use of agro-industrial by-product as alternative feed resources has gained importance. Among these, cotton processing residues such as cotton gin trash (CGT) have emerged as a promising and economical feed resource for ruminant animals including cattle, sheep, and goats. Cotton gin trash is generated during the ginning process where cotton lint is separated from the seeds. The by-products mainly consists of cotton burs, leaves, stems, immature lint, and small quantities of dust and soil particles. Instead of being treated as waste, this material can be effectively utilized as a livestock feed ingredient when incorporated properly in ruminant diets.