Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate performance, apparent digestibility, blood parameters, and quantitative characteristics of carcass and internal organs of crossbred dairy calves fed different levels of crude glycerin in corn grain-based diets. Twenty-four calves of three months of age and average initial weight of 95.5±11.8 kg were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments (0, 80, 160, and 240 g kg−1 of crude glycerin of DM of diets). The calves were fed in [...]
Highlights
The current Brazilian dairy production system, which discards male calves, needs to find more efficient and humane ways to raise these animals
There was no effect on the apparent digestibility of nutrients, average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and blood parameters
Crude glycerin is considered as the new corn for dairy cattle (Donkin, 2008) and can help to reduce feed costs in feedlot (Saleem and Singer, 2018)
Summary
The current Brazilian dairy production system, which discards male calves, needs to find more efficient and humane ways to raise these animals. The production of pink meat calves is highlighted, with solid diets (grain-fed veal), contrasting the milk-fed veal. Grain-fed veal is an interesting alternative, since it has similar characteristics to the meat from adult cattle and meets the demand for quality and health products for being considered lean and with low fat (Abu Bakar et al, 2001). The rearing of cereal-fed dairy calves can have a relatively high production cost (Missio et al, 2009a). In this context, crude glycerin is considered as the new corn for dairy cattle (Donkin, 2008) and can help to reduce feed costs in feedlot (Saleem and Singer, 2018). The increase in the use of biodiesel in Brazil has led to a large production of glycerin, and because it has the largest commercial herd in the world, it shows great potential for the commercial absorption of this byproduct as an ingredient in ruminant diets (Barros et al, 2018)
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