Using Crude Glycerin In High Forage Diets: A Way to Improve the Profitablilty of Biodiesel Production

2009 DOT-RITA Seed Award

 

PI: Dr. Jim Macdonald (Texas A&M University, Texas AgriLife Research at Amarillo)
Co-PI: Dr. Mike Brown (West Texas A&M University, Agricultural Science)

Funded: $70,000

Start Date: 12/01/2009

End Date: 11/30/2011

 

Expected Outcomes

Adding value to crude glycerin by incorporating it into beef cattle diets may improve the profitability of biodiesel production. Therefore, the following benefits are anticipated:

 

1. Providing information from which a market value of crude glycerin as a feed ingredient can be determined;
2. Developing a market for crude glycerin by providing nutritionists and feedlot managers with these data; and
3. Improving the profitability of biodiesel production.

Animal performance and morbidity data can be used by producers to assess the value of glycerin. Additionally, the digestion work will give clarity to change in volatile fatty acid production so that other strategies for glycerin use in ruminant diets can be developed. Finally, the animal performance data will give rise to an energy estimate for crude glycerin that can be used in least cost ration formulation programs by nutritionists.