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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214725
Title: Nutritional Value of Glycerin for Nonruminants

Author
item Kerr, Brian
item Dozier Iii, William
item BREGENDAHL, K - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2007
Publication Date: 9/18/2007
Citation: Kerr, B.J., Dozier III, W.A., Bregendahl, K. 2007. Nutritional Value of Glycerin for Nonruminants. In: Proceedings of Minnesota Nutrition Conference, September 18, 2007, Minneapolis, MN. p. 220-234.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: With the rapid expension of the bio-diesel industry there will be substantial amounts of crude glycerol (the principal co-product of biodiesel production) that will become available for use as a livestock feedstuff. Because glycerol is a precursor to glucose via gluconeogenesis, is a backbone of fat in lipogenesis, and yields energy through the glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid pathways, determination of the energy value of crude glycerol in livestock feeds is vital. The research summarized in this review indicates an apparent metabolizable energy content of crude glycerol (87% glycerol) was 3,207 kcal/kg for swine, 3,684 in broilers, and 3,805 in laying hens. In addition, data is presented indicating that crude glycerol has little to no impact on pig performance, carcass composition, or meat quality. This information is important for nutritionists at universities, feed companies, and swine, broiler, and egg production facilities for the determination of the energy value of crude glycerol for use in feed formulations, and provides a basis from which to assess its economic value.