This work was carried out with the objective to evaluate the effects of different levels (0.0 20.0, 30.0 and 40.0%) of whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) of the diet (% DM) on performance and nutrient digestibilities of feedlot Santa Inez sheep. Twenty-four sheep with average initial and final body weight of 19.0 and 32.2 kg, respectively, and allotted to a completely randomized design, with four diets and six replications. The dry matter intake in kg/day, %BW and g/kg0.75 was not influenced by the inclusion of the whole cottonseed (WCS), with averages of 1.195, 4.61, and 104.07, respectively. The total and daily weight gains decreased, while the feed conversion ration showed increasing linear effect with the inclusion of WCS, except for the level of 20% WCS that showed similar performance to the control diet. The intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), total carbohydrates (TC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), in g/day were not affected, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) presented increasing linear effect with the inclusion of WCS. The inclusion of whole cottonseed in the feeding provided quadratic effect for digestible coefficients of CP, ADF and increasing linear effect for NDF and EE, however did not affect DM, OM, TC and TDN intake of the diets. The whole cottonseed in the used levels does not alter the intake and the digestibility of the DM, NDF and TND, but reduced the weight gain and feed conversion ratio of feedlot of the Santa Inez lambs, and could be included in termination diets.
gossypol; intake; oleaginous legumes; Santa Inez; weight gain
