The Effect of Autoclaving on the Nutritive Value of the Proteins in Cottonseed Meal

Abstract
As measured in ad libitum growth experiment with rats, steam autoclaving (17 pounds pressure) markedly reduced the nutritive value of the proteins in gossypol-free (ether-extracted) cottonseed meats. The 2 hour-autoclaved meal when present in quantity sufficient to give 12% protein in the diet permitted a gain in grams per gram protein eaten of 0.52 compared with 2.0 for the unautoclaved meal. Animals fed the 2 hour-autoclaved meal were only slightly benefitted by supplementation with lysine. Supplementation with histidine was ineffective.