ARS | Publication request: Performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs fed crude glycerol

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 8, 2007
Publication Date: July 12, 2007
Citation: Lammers, P.J., Honeyman, M.S., Kerr, B.J., Weber, T.E., Bregendahl, K. 2007. Performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs fed crude glycerol [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 85(Suppl. 1):508(Abstr.).

Technical Abstract: Performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs fed crude glycerol, a co-product of biodiesel production, were determined in a 138-d feeding trial conducted at the Iowa State University Swine Nutrition Research Farm, Ames, IA. Pigs were weaned at 21d of age and were fed a commercial starter-pellet for one week. Eight days post-weaning, 96 pigs (48 gilts, 48 barrows) with an average body weight of 8.0 kg were allotted to 24 pens (4 pigs/pen). Gender distribution and pen weight was balanced at the start of the experiment. One of three dietary regimes was randomly assigned to each pen. Dietary treatments were 0, 5, and 10% liquid crude glycerol inclusion in dry diets (meal form) that were formulated to be iso-energetic and iso-lysinic. Pigs were fed 5 phases ad libitum over the 138 d trial. Pigs were weighed bi-weekly; phase change occurred on a day that pigs were weighed and all treatments changed phase at the same time. Feed disappearance from the feeder was recorded throughout the trial. On day 138 pigs were weighed (average body weight 133 kg) and scanned using real-time ultrasound (ALOKA 500). Measures of performance and carcass characteristics were calculated and LSmeans were compared using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). Response to dietary treatment was not different across phases, therefore performance measures for the entire 138 d feeding period were compared. There was no difference in start weight (P = 0.72), end weight (P = 0.92), average daily gain (P = 0.93), average daily feed intake (P = 0.65), and gain-to-feed ratio (P = 0.13) for the three dietary treatments. Diet did not affect backfat depth (P = 0.14), loin muscle area (P = 0.12), or fat free lean percentage on a live basis (P = 0.13). Gender of pig did affect backfat depth (P < 0.001) and fat free lean percentage on a live basis (P < 0.001), but there was no diet by gender interaction (P > 0.10). Growing pigs can be supplemented crude glycerol without affecting growth, efficiency of gain, or lean performance.