Effects of replacing ground corn with crude glycerin in total mixed ration on feed intake, digestibility of nutrients, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of goats

Abstract

Four goats with an average live weight of 26±3.0 kg were randomly assigned according to the 4x4 Latin square design to receive four total mixed rations (TMR) containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% crude glycerin (CG), respectively. TMR was offered on an ad libitum basis. Based on this experiment, there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments regarding DM intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients (DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, and ADF). Likewise, mean serum glucose, BHBA, and PCV concentrations were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments; whereas serum insulin concentration linearly increased (L, P=0.002) with increasing amounts of CG supplementation. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and BUN concentration were unchanged by dietary treatments; except for 20% CG where NH3-N and BUN were lower (P<0.05) than those of the diet with 10% CG. Based on this study, CG at 20% in total mixed ration could be efficiently utilized in goats.