Chemical Composition and Nutritional Characterization of Cotton Seed as Potential Feed Supplement

The potential of cotton seeds to serve as animal feed in reducing feed-food competition between humans and animals was examined in this research. Proximate analysis, mineral characterization, and fatty acid composition of the seed were determined using standard analytical techniques. The protein content of cotton seeds found to be 24.81 ± 0.42% was observed to be above the protein requirement of 18% by rabbits and chicken and 12% for goats and sheep. The combination source of carbohydrates, protein, and fat in which cotton seed is endowed offers an adequate nutritional diet for animals. Carbohydrate and crude fat accounted for 19.30 ± 0.1% and 24.81 ± 0.42%, respectively, making cotton seed a valuable source of lipids, protein, and carbohydrate, all major nutrients needed to maintain animals' proper maintenance. The most abundant mineral was potassium (K), at 126.70 ± 5.77 mg/g, which can help maintain body weight. It could assist in the modulation of electrolyte and water balance in the system. Quality assessments indicate that cotton seed, when properly processed, can serve as an affordable alternative to soybean, maize, and groundnut and is currently used as the major sources of animal protein and energy, thereby reducing the competition between feed and food.