Abstract
This study evaluated the inclusion of crude glycerin for piglets in the starter phase. In the performance assay, we used 80 barrows, with initial weight of 6.64 ± 0.8 kg. The experimental design was of randomized blocks and the treatments consisted in 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% of crude glycerin. There was a quadratic effect on final weight, average daily gain and feed intake, the maximum inclusion of crude glycerin was of 2.77%, for higher daily intake. For the ADG, the level of 2.76% of crude glycerin allowed the best gain and final weight, despite any effect on food conversion. There was a significant effect on the incidence of diarrhea (p=0.014) when 2% of crude glycerin was included in the diet. There was a linear decreasing effect on the percentage of GIT (p=0,006), small intestine (p=0,038), kidneys (p=0,089) and liver (p=0,037) of piglets that did not have glycerin in the diet. We observed a quadratic effect on the relative weight of the spleen and pancreas of piglets, the level of 2.73% of crude glycerin resulted in lower pancreas weight, and 3.04% of glycerin increased spleen weight. The level of 2.76% of crude glycerin promotes the highest weight gain for piglets in the nursery phase.
Keywords:
digestibility; glycerol; performance; pig