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To evaluate the dietary inclusion of mesquite pods (Prosopis laevigata) on the growth performance, rumen fermentation, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites and carcass traits, 15 Creole goat kids (12.1 ± 2.8 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets with 0, 300 and 600 g of mesquite pods (dry matter basis). The study lasted 80 days. At the end of this period, the blood and ruminal fluid were sampled and the nitrogen (N) balance was calculated. The growth performance and feed intake were not affected by the mesquite pods. The nitrogen digestibility, N absorbed, and N retained increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the increasing amounts of mesquite pods in the diet. The serum glucose and triglycerides were not affected by the mesquite pods, but the creatinine and uric acid decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the mesquite pods increased in the diet. The highest (P < 0.05) rumen pH value, ammonia-N concentration, molar proportion of the acetate and the acetate : propionate ratio was found in the goat kids fed the diet with 600 g when compared to those fed diets with 0 and 300 g mesquite pods. Beneficial dietary effects of mesquite pods on the blood metabolites and N retention of the goat kids were found in this study; therefore, the dietary inclusion of mesquite pods at 600 g/kg can be used as a feed alternative for growing goat kids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]