Performance and Carcass Yield of Broilers Fed Crude Glycerin at Differing Inclusion Levels

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of crude glycerin at differing inclusion levels on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers and litter moisture. 960 broilers of 21-42 days of age were used in a completely randomized design with six crude glycerin inclusion levels (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15%), with eight replicates containing 20 broiler chickens per experimental unit. There was a quadratic effect (p<0.05) for weight gain, feed intake and feed:gain ratio from 21 to 42 days of age. Higher levels of crude glycerin in diets increased (40.24%, p<0.05) the litter moisture and reduced (6.04%, p<0.05) the viability of of the birds. There were no effects (p>0.05) on carcass yield, breast, or liver percentages. However, there was an increase (6.17%, p<0.05) in leg yield and a decrease in (p<0,05, 7.05%) the drumstick yield. For the wing yield and abdominal fat, a quadratic effect (p<0.05) was observed. The protein and fat deposition rates, as well as the dry matter content of the carcass, showed a quadratic effect (p<0.05) due to the inclusion levels of crude glycerin. Crude glycerin may be used in broiler diets from 21 to 42 days, at up to 6% without harming the performance of the broilers, the yield and carcass quality, litter moisture, and the viability of broilers. It is recommended that crude glycerin can be fed at 5.63% from 21 to 42 days, while for lower feed conversion it is recommended that the level of 3.72% is used.