Effect of Feeding Glycerin on Ruminal Environment and In Situ Degradability of Feedstuffs in Young Bulls

摘要

Simple SummaryGlycerin (a by-product of the biodiesel industry) can be used as an energetic ingredient in animal feeds, but there are few studies on fattening ruminants that concurrently analyse the effect of glycerin on the ruminal metabolism, ruminal bacterial population and feedstuff degradability. We have studied the effect of feeding glycerin in young bulls that were fed high levels of concentrate. The results showed that the inclusion of glycerin in beef cattle feed (at 20, 40 or 80 g/kg) increased the propionic acid production, and at high levels could reduce the ruminal pH. In addition, the ruminal population of Selenomonas ruminantium (a lactate- and glycerol-consuming and a propionate-producing species) could be increased by glycerin supplementation. In general, no negative effects on the ruminal degradability of feedstuffs (cereals, protein supplements and fibrous materials) are caused by the use of glycerin. In young bulls that were fed high levels of concentrate, glycerin at 20 or 40 g/kg of feed can be included without affecting the ruminal pH.