Pesticides residues
The cotton plant is susceptible to many diseases, pests and weeds, thus large amounts of pesticides and herbicides are required throughout the growing season. Many of the chemicals used are labeled as “Do not feed to livestock any crop material that has had this chemical applied” (Buser, 2001). When cotton crop residues are intended for animal feeding, the crop should not be treated or the chemicals contained in the plant should remain below the MRL provided by national or supranational authorities. For example in Australia, 9 chemicals (Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Ethion, Dimethipin, Metolachlor, Parathion-methyl, Pirimicarb, Propaquizafop, Pyrithiobac-sodium) are listed as a potential danger to livestock and the corresponding MRLs are available in relevant Tables for feed commodities (APVMA, 2012). The MRL for cotton fodder provided by the Codex Alimentarius only deals with Indoxacarb, whose MRL is 20 mg/kg dry cotton fodder (Codex Alimentarius, 2013).