This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding different levels of cottonseed hulls on nutrient intake, apparent total tract digestibility, carcass physical composition and traits, and percentage of commercial cuts of confined steers. Eighteen crossbred steers averaging 230 kg of initial body weight (BW) were used. Two animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the trial, performing the reference group while the remaining were uniformly assigned to a complete randomized design in one of four treatments (% of total dry matter): 0, 10, 20 or 30% of cottonseed hulls that replaced elephant grass silage. The forage:concentrate ratio was 60:40. Inclusion of cottonseed hulls in the diet linearly increased the intake of ether extract as well as the intakes of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) expressed as a percentage of BW. Conversely, increasing dietary levels of cottonseed hulls did no change carcass physical composition and characteristics and yield of commercial cuts except for FT that increased linearly. Good production parameters were achieved with the highest level of cottonseed hulls in the diet (30%) in the present trial.
byproduct; Holstein; intake
