An inhibition of ovarian
steroidogenesis by gossypol in the monogastric female has
been implicated as a possible cause for these detrimental
effects on estrous cyclicity and the establishment and
maintenance of pregnancy. The negative effect of gossypol
on animal health has long been recognized, and the toxic
effects of gossypol are much greater for non-ruminants than
ruminants due to binding of FG to soluble proteins in the
rumen (Willard et al., 1995). Therefore, FG will not do
harm to animals if it is transformed into bound gossypol
(BG), because BG cannot be absorbed through digestive
tract. Commonly, cottonseeds are processed into oil and
meal, which may contain high concentration of the toxin,
thus, it is necessary for CSM to be further processed to
reduce gossypol to permissible levels as animal protein feed
resources.