Crude glycerin levels in pearl millet-based diets for Nellore young bulls in feedlot

Werney Da Silva Moreira,José Neuman Miranda Neiva,Roger Vieira Moreira,Regis Luis Missio,João Restle,Fabrícia Rocha Chaves Miotto

doi:10.1590/s1806-92902016000100005

Werney Da Silva Moreira, José Neuman Miranda Neiva + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-92902016000100005

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Abstract

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to find the best level of inclusion of crude glycerin (0, 60, 120, and 240 g kg−1 of dry matter of diet) in substitution of pearl millet in a feedlot diet. Twenty-eight Nellore young bulls with mean age of 18 months and average weight of 357±23.56 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and seven replications. The intakes of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients were similar among the dietary levels of crude glycerin. The ether extract intake decreased with increase in the levels of crude glycerol in the diets. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and extract ether was similar among the dietary crude glycerin levels. Apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was lower in the diets with inclusion of crude glycerin in relation the other diets. The increase in the levels of crude glycerin did not affect the total digestible nutrients content of the diets. Average daily gain increased linearly with the increase in crude glycerin. Feed conversion was not altered by the increase in the levels of crude glycerin in the diets. The dietary increase in crude glycerin level did not affect the carcass characteristics. The inclusion of up to 240 g kg−1 of crude glycerin in pearl millet grain-based diets for feedlot-finished Nellore young bulls increases average daily gain, but does not change the main carcass characteristics of economic importance.

Highlights

Biodiesel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels as it reduces the emissions of CO2, SO2, and SO3
The intakes of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients were similar among the dietary levels of crude glycerin
The increase in the demand for biodiesel, which corresponded to 7% of the fossil diesel in 2014, reflects in greater supply of crude glycerol, which leads to the need for applications to be found for this by-product

Summary

Introduction

Biodiesel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels as it reduces the emissions of CO2, SO2, and SO3. Biodiesel is obtained mainly from vegetable oils, which, with the addition of a basic catalyst and in the presence of methanol or ethanol, are transesterified, forming three molecules of methyl esters (biodiesel), releasing one molecule of glycerol, called low-grade glycerol or crude glycerol. The increase in the demand for biodiesel, which corresponded to 7% of the fossil diesel in 2014, reflects in greater supply of crude glycerol, which leads to the need for applications to be found for this by-product In this context, because it is the largest commercial herd of the world (Anualpec, 2014), the Brazilian cattle herd shows great potential for the commercial absorption of this by-product, providing an environmentally appropriate destination for this by-product, in addition to contributing to reducing feed costs due to the lower price of this by-product compared with those traditionally used in animal feeding. The use of crude glycerol in animal feeding, in this sense, has been normally researched as a substitute for corn grain (Chanjula et al, 2014; Van Cleef et al, 2014)

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