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