A trial was carriedout to evaluate the effects of increasing levels (0, 8 and 12%) of cottonseedmeal 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 (15-30kg). Eighty pigs, barrows and females, averaging initial body weight of 14.81± 1.72 kg were allotted to a complete randomized block design with fivetreatments (0CM, 8CM, 12CM, 12CM+20FeSO4, and 12CM+40FeSO4)and five replicates with two or three piglets per experimental unit. There wasno effect of increasing CM36 levels and ferrous sulfate additionon piglet performance. The increasing of CM36 did not influence thePUN values. The hematological values were affected neither by the increasinglevels of CM36 nor by the ferrous sulfate addition, except for cellhemoglobin (MCH) that increased linearly as the dietary levels of ferrous sulfateincreased. It can be concluded that CM36 can be included up to 12%in the diet with no effects on performance of starting piglets and indicateno need of adding ferrous sulfate.
