Exploring the proximate nutrients of cotton gin trash: An alternate roughage feed to ruminants

Abstract

Cotton gin trash is a by-product of cotton ginning process and serves as an alternate source of roughage in dairy animal feed. Proximate analysis of coarse cotton gin trash samples showed the following nutrient composition: Moisture 11.2%, Crude protein 10.9%, Crude fibre 37.68%, Ether extract 3.2%, Total ash 7.25%, Acid insoluble ash (AIA) 2.3%. The high fibre and moderate protein content make cotton gin trash an important roughage source especially during times of fodder scarcity. Additionally, enhancing its nutrient profile could further increase its value as a beneficial agricultural byproduct for livestock nutrition.