Abstract
Twelve ruminally cannulated steers (401.0 ± 41.5 kg) and 24 mo were used in a replicated arrangement truncated Latin Square with six animals in six treatments and four periods to evaluate the effect of crude glycerine (CG; 80.3% of glycerol) with starch or fiber-based energy ingredients in the concentrate on DMI, DM (DMD) and NDF digestibility (NDFD) and ruminal parameters. Experimental periods were 19 days (14 days for adaptation and 5 days to sampling). Diets were: CO - without CG and corn as ingredient of concentrate; CGC - inclusion of CG (10% of DM) with corn in the concentrate; and CGSH - inclusion of CG (10% of DM) with soybean hulls (SH) in the concentrate. All three diets were offered at low (LC) or high (HC) concentrate level, CL (40 or 60%). Animals fed LC or HC diets had similar DMI, DMD and NDFD. Animals fed diets with CG associated with corn or SH had higher propionate concentrations and lower A:P ratio. Diets with HC increase the propionate but do not affect the NDFD. CG (10% of DM) can be used to replace corn or SH in diets with 40 or 60% of concentrate, without affect NDFD.
Highlights
Glycerol is a byproduct from the biodiesel agroindustry and has been used as an energy source in diets of ruminants (Donkin, Koser, White, Doane, & Cecava, 2009; Eiras et al, 2013; Hales et al, 2013; Meale, Chaves, Ding, Bush, & McAllister, 2013; Cruz et al, 2014; Eiras et al, 2014)
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crude glycerine on diet digestibility and ruminal fermentation when fed at two levels of concentrate to Nellore steers
Level of concentrate in the diet had no effect on DMI (p = 0.64), DM digestibility (p = 0.85) and NDF digestibility (p = 0.61; Table 2)
Summary
Glycerol is a byproduct from the biodiesel agroindustry and has been used as an energy source in diets of ruminants (Donkin, Koser, White, Doane, & Cecava, 2009; Eiras et al, 2013; Hales et al, 2013; Meale, Chaves, Ding, Bush, & McAllister, 2013; Cruz et al, 2014; Eiras et al, 2014). A reduction in NDF digestibility has frequently been reported from the inclusion of glycerine in ruminant diets (Donkin et al, 2009) apparently from a growth. Dietary glycerine appears to have a differential effect on fiber digestion depending on the level of dietary starch. Concerns about reduction of fiber digestibility associated with feeding glycerine are limited in feedlot cattle fed high-concentrate finishing diets because fiber concentrations are normally low (Hales et al, 2013).
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