Effect of different levels of whole cottonseed on fattening performance and blood parameters of Zandi male lambs

To study the effects of various levels of whole cottonseed (WCS) on performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters, an experiment in completely randomized design (CRD) with four diets containing zero, four, eight and 16 percent WCS on 20 Zandi male lambs with initial average weight 30.4 ± 1.8 kg and 5-6 months old for 90 days was performed. Energy and chemical composition of rations were similar. In comparison of control diet with diets contain WCS in aspect of feed intake, feed conversion ratio, the percent of the carcass and also abdominal fat was significant difference (P< 0.01). The effect of diet on concentration of blood parameters was significant (P< 0.01). Glucose concentration with increasing of WCS in diet was decreasing, whereas concentration of cholesterol and triglyceride in blood increased linearly. This experiment showed that the WCS could be included up to eight percent of the fattening male lamb’s diet.