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Seventy-two pigs weaned at 20 d of age, were selected at 27 to 30 d of age based on similar weaning weight and divided within gender into heavy and light based on body weight (BW). A wheat-based control diet and two diets containing either 4 or 8% glycerol were formulated by replacing wheat with crude glycerol. The main dietary ingredients were wheat, soybean meal, lactose, and fish meal. The study was a completely randomized design with 18 pens in one nursery room. Each pen was fed one of three diets during the 4-wk study starting 7 to 10 d post-weaning for six observations per diet. During the first 7 to 10 d after weaning, pigs were fed a commercial starter diet. Pigs had free access to feed and water during the entire 4-wk study. Pigs were individually weighed weekly to monitor BW gain. The amount of feed consumed was determined on a weekly basis. The measured BW changes and feed disappearance were used to determine ADG, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (ADG/ ADFI) for the pen.
For day 0 to 28, body weight increased linearly (P=0.04); pigs fed 8% glycerol were 1.11 kg heavier than pigs fed 0% glycerol. Glycerol inclusion tended to increase average daily gain linearly (P=0.066) and increased average daily feed intake quadratically (P=0.037) without affecting feed efficiency (P>0.10).
Feeding up to 8% dietary crude glycerol by substituting wheat can enhance the growth performance of weaned pigs.
RT Zijlstra, K Menjivar, E Lawrence, and E. Beltranena. 2009. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. 89:85-89.
