October 28, 2013

Taiwan's import of cottonseed meal, used mainly for scientific experiments in 2011, was about 150 kilogrammes and rose to 5,500 tonnes in 2012 and 3,500 tonnes in 2013, used for animal feed and media substance for bulk-bag-harvested fungi.

This is according to Taiwan's Council of Agriculture's (COA).

COA Deputy Director Huang Guo-ching said that in 2011 there were 5,109 tonnes of cottonseed meal imported from Australia, 432 tonnes imported from India and 19 tonnes imported from China. In 2012, 2,625 tonnes were imported from Australia, 863 tonnes from India and 61 tonnes from China.

The cottonseed meal is produced from cottonseed oil, and is high in protein even though it cannot be used to extract oil. The COA noted that the meal could be mixed into animal feed to increase protein intake, and that animals are able to digest gossypol, the natural phenol derived from the cotton plant that is harmful to humans.

"However, the gossypol would reduce the animal's ability to digest protein; therefore the cottonseed meal should be used sparingly. About 10% of cottonseed meal can be added to feed for animals that chew cud, and 2-3% to poultry feed," added the COA.

Huang said that Taiwan has not yet standardised the amount of cottonseed that can be added to animal feed, but the COA has begun a study on the standards of other countries and will develop its own policy.