A trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of increasing levels (0, 8 and 12%) of cottonseed meal 36% (CM36) and three inclusion levels (0, 20, and 40 g/100 kg) of ferrous sulfate - FeSO4 (12% of CM diets) on the performance, plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and hematological values of starting pigs (15-30 kg). Eighty pigs, barrows and females, averaging initial body weight of 14.81 ± 1.72 kg were allotted to a complete randomized block design with five treatments (0CM, 8CM, 12CM, 12CM+20FeSO4, and 12CM+40FeSO4) and five replicates with two or three piglets per experimental unit. There was no effect of increasing CM36 levels and ferrous sulfate addition on piglet performance. The increasing of CM36 did not influence the PUN values. The hematological values were affected neither by the increasing levels of CM36 nor by the ferrous sulfate addition, except for cell hemoglobin (MCH) that increased linearly as the dietary levels of ferrous sulfate increased. It can be concluded that CM36 can be included up to 12% in the diet with no effects on performance of starting piglets and indicate no need of adding ferrous sulfate.
alternative feedstuffs; animal nutrition; gossypol; performance; swine
