Cottonseed

The boll is a protective fruit and when the plant is grown commercially, it is stripped from the seed by ginning and the lint is then processed into cotton fibre.

[2] Cottonseed is considered a safer alternative to corn supplemented diets due to its low starch content.

[3] Cottonseed as livestock feed must also be monitored for safety since the foodstuff is high in energy/fat and too much fat content in a cow's diet can disrupt its ability to digest fiber, leading to other complications.

The flaked cottonseed kernels are put under high pressure through a screw inside a constantly revolving barrel.

It is the seed left after the separation of long fibres from cotton, and serves as a good source of cellulose for ruminants.

In order to make cottonseed oil fit for human consumption, it must be processed to remove the gossypol.

In October 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture approved for farming a genetically modified version of cottonseed developed by Dr. Keerti Rathore of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that contains ultra-low amounts of gossypol in its seeds.

[7][8] The toxin remains present in other parts of the plant to protect against pests, but is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human consumption.

Due to its natural nutrients, cottonseed meal improves soil's texture and helps retain moisture.

It serves as a good source of natural fertilizers in dry areas due to its tendency of keeping the soil moist.