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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2008-0987v1 87/2/632    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mach, N. Articles by Devant, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mach, N. Articles by Devant, M.

Effects of crude glycerin supplementation on performance and meat quality of Holstein bulls fed high-concentrate diets¹

N. Mach^*, A. Bach^*,,2 and M. Devant^*

^* IRTA-Unitat de Remugants (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries), and Animal Nutrition, Management, and Welfare Research Group, Barcelona, 08193, Spain; and ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats), Barcelona, 08010, Spain

² Corresponding author: alex.bach{at}irta.cat

Forty-eight bulls (335 ± 8.6 kg of initial BW) were randomly assigned to 4 glycerin levels (0, 4, 8, and 12% of concentrate DM) with the objective of evaluating the effects of glycerin supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, metabolism, and carcass and meat quality in Holstein bulls fed high-concentrate diets. Concentrates were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric (assuming a glycerin ME content of 3.47 Mcal/kg of DM). Concentrate and straw were fed for ad libitum intake. Bull BW and feed consumption were recorded monthly. Additionally, rumen and blood samples were collected every month. Bulls were slaughtered after 91 d of study (460 ± 11 kg of final BW). Hot carcass weight, carcass backfat, and conformation were recorded. The area, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and intramuscular fat content of LM were determined. Glycerin level did not affect daily concentrate intake (6.89 ± 0.34 kg/d of DM), straw intake (1.38 ± 0.069 kg/d of DM), total DMI (8.27 ± 0.32 kg/d of DM), ADG (1.36 ± 0.087 kg/d), or G:F (0.17 ± 0.009). Similarly, rumen molar proportions of propionic, acetic, and butyric acids, and rumen liquid osmolality were unaffected by treatment. However, a decreased rumen pH (P < 0.05), and greater rumen total VFA concentration (P = 0.09), serum insulin concentration (P < 0.05), and insulin to glucose ratio (P < 0.05) were observed in bulls fed 8% glycerin in concentrate compared with those receiving 0, 4, or 12%. No changes were observed in carcass and meat quality. The ME content of glycerin (86% glycerol) can be assumed to be 3.47 Mcal/kg of DM in Holstein bulls fed high-concentrate diets. In addition, feeding concentrate containing up to 12.1% of glycerin does not lead to detrimental effects on performance, ruminal fermentation, metabolism, and carcass and meat quality variables.

Key Words: beef • glycerol • meat • rumen