ARS | Publication request: Energy value of crude glycerol in 11 and 110 kg pigs

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 19, 2007
Publication Date: September 13, 2007
Citation: Lammers, P.J., Kerr, B.J., Weber, T.E., Dozier III, W.A., Kidd, M.T., Bregendahl, K., Honeyman, M.S. 2007. Energy value of crude glycerol in 11 and 110 kg pigs [abstract]. Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. EAAP Publication No. 124, pp. 623-624.

Technical Abstract: Production of biofuels is increasing due to rising energy prices, uncertain access to petroleum supplies, and recognition of the environmental impacts of using fossil fuel. Biodiesel is alternative to diesel fuel consisting of the monoalkyl esters formed by a catalyzed reaction of the triacylglycerides in oils or fats with an alcohol with glycerol the chief co-product of biodiesel production. Widespread processing of crude glycerol to pure glycerol may become uneconomical given continued growth in biodiesel production such that crude glycerol may become available for use as an energy feedstuff for livestock. There have been multiple reviews of the metabolic effects of glycerol. Glycerol is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract of monogastrics and is utilized as a source of dietary energy. Glycerol is gluconeogenic, and glycerol gluconeogenisis appears to be limited only by the availability of glycerol. Studies examining the effects of feeding crude glycerol to monogastric food animals have been reported but no studies have reported the DE or ME of crude glycerol fed to pigs. Studies reported herein indicate the apparent DE and ME of crude glycerol was 93% and 70% of GE in starter pigs, and 104% and 85% of GE in finishing pigs, respectively. Although the DE in crude glycerol was not different from crude glycerol’s GE in either starting or finishing pigs, the DE of crude glycerol was greater than its ME (P < 0.05) in both starting and finishing pigs. Both DE and ME of crude glycerol in finishing pigs was greater than in starting pigs (P < 0.05). This data indicates that crude glycerol can be a viable energy source to growing and finishing pigs.