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The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of condensed tannins on growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality and antioxidant capacity of mutton sheep. A total of 27 Duhan hybrid (Duper sheep x small-tailed Han sheep) ewes were randomly divided into three groups, with nine replicates in each group and one sheep in each replicate. Sheep in control group were fed with a basal diet, sheep in low-dose group and high-dose group were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 39.47 and 78.94 g/kg condensed tannin, respectively. The experiment lasted for 60 d. The results showed that final weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The average daily feed intake of the high-dose group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The GR value and carcass weight in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The pH24h value, cohesiveness and mastication of mutton in the low dose and high-dose groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The drip loss rate of mutton in the low-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the cooking loss was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The T-AOC, activity of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in the serum of mutton sheep in the low-dose group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the content of MDA was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum CAT activity of the high-dose group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The study indicates that the dietary 39.47 g/kg condensed tannins can improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, slaughter performance and meat quality of mutton sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]