Evaluation of crude glycerin as a partial substitute of corn grain in growing diets for lambs

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crude glycerin addition containing 80.5% glycerol on nutrient intake, digestibility, performance and blood parameters of lambs in feedlot. We used 40 Santa Inês crossbred uncastrated male lambs, with 21 kg ± 0.8 kg initial body weight. These were designed in randomised blocks, with ten replications of each of four treatments: 0, 6, 12 and 18% crude glycerin. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on DM, CP and TDN intakes, estimating to levels of 10.9, 10.8 and 10.7% the maximum intake of 1293.76, 241.55 and 904.76 g d−1, respectively. There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the digestibility of DM, CP and NDFap, estimating the 790, 863.7 and 596.0 (g kg−1 DM) maximum digestibility in levels of 10.7, 10.6 and 10.5%, respectively. The average daily gain and feed conversion showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05). There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on serum glucose and albumin, while there was a linear increase (P < 0.05) on serum sodium concentration. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, globulin, creatinine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase. The addition of crude glycerin may be included in lamb diets up to 18%.