Effect of crude glycerol from South African biodiesel production on growth, carcass characteristics and pork quality of pigs

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of crude glycerol as a partial replacement of maize at 50 g/kg and 100 g/kg in pig grower diets. Three experimental diets were formulated, a control (CN) and two diets containing 50 g/kg (low glycerol (LG)) and 100 g/kg (high glycerol (HG)) glycerol. The experimental diets were fed in a growth and carcass evaluation study to 60 Large White crossbred pigs (30 males and 30 females) weighing 21 ± 1.6 kg. There were no differences between the glycerol inclusion levels in daily gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio and carcass traits of the pigs. Gilts had a higher dressing percentage and lower backfat thickness than boars. They also had shorter carcasses and a lower drip loss percentage than boars. There were no differences in thawing, drip, evaporation and total cooking losses of pork loin chops between treatments. It was concluded that crude glycerol can be included up to 100 g/kg in grower pig diets without any negative effects on pig performance.

Keywords: Energy, digestibility, fatty acids, biofuel, cooking characteristics