Licuri oil improves feedlot performance and modifies ruminal fauna of Santa Inês ewes

•Licuri oil is an alternative to meet the energy demand of the diet provided to ewe.•Different levels of licuri oil in diets for Santa Inês ewes were tested.•Diets containing up to 2% licuri oil increase the DM intake and weight gain in ewes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of licuri oil on intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, rumen protozoa population, and productive performance of Santa Inês ewe. Thirty-two Santa Inês ewe (multiparous, non-lactating, 2–4 years old and 36.7 ± 0.87 kg body weight) were distributed in a randomized block design, receiving diets containing licuri oil (0, 2, 4, and 5% based on total dry matter) in partial replacement of ground corn (n = 8 per treatment). The inclusion of licuri oil promoted a quadratic effect for the intakes of dry matter (P = 0.008), and neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.004), dry matter digestibility (P = 0.004), ether extract (P < 0.0001), average daily gain (P = 0.01), rumination time (min/day; P = 0.039 and min/g DM; P = 0.041), chewing time (min/g DM; P = 0.020), and for protozoa counts of the genus Entodinium (P < 0.0001). Ewe fed diets containing licuri oil showed higher consumption of ether extract (P < 0.0001), feed conversion (P = 0.004), and rumen pH (P < 0.0001), in contrast, a reduction in digestibility was observed neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.002) and total population of protozoa (P < 0.0001) in relation to those fed the control diet. In experimental conditions, it is possible to include licuri oil up to 2% in diets with 50% roughage offered to Santa Inês ewe to provide an increase in the intake and digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, greater weight gain, and greater total protozoa count.