It is classified as a concentrated and energy-rich feed ingredient. Its water content varies but never exceeds 27% (Table 1).
16 Jun 2023
Glycerol, also known as glycerin, can be obtained through biodiesel production from vegetable oils or animal fats.
Through a process called “transesterification,” the fatty acids are separated from glycerol and re-esterified into an alcohol known as methanol, leaving glycerol as a residue.
For every 100 kg of biodiesel produced, approximately 4 to 10kg of glycerol is obtained.
With the growth of the biodiesel industry, the use of glycerol in livestock diets is gaining increasing interest due to its greater availability and more favorable prices.
This by-product is a viscous liquid that needs to be stored at temperatures above 13°C to ensure fluidity.
According to the FAO, glycerol is recognized as a safe ingredient for animal diets. However, the levels of methanol found in this by-product obtained from biodiesel production must be taken into account.
Its purity depends on the processes to which it is subjected to. The higher the purity, the lower the methanol content it contains.
This is why variable levels of methanol can be found, ranging from 1.3% to 27%. The latter is an undesirable alcohol for livestock feed due to its toxicity.
In ruminants, methanol toxicity is lower than in monogastric animals, thanks to ruminal bacteria that can detoxify this alcohol. However, under the presence of high doses or in unaccustomed animals, renal and nervous disorders may occur.
Glycerol as a nutrient
It is classified as a concentrated and energy-rich feed ingredient. Its water content varies but never exceeds 27% (Table 1).
You may also like to read:“Palm kernel cake and meal (Raw materials sheet).”
Subscribe now to the technical magazine of animal nutrition
AUTHORS
From 2025 Data to 2026 Decisions: Managing Mycotoxin Risk in a Changing Climate
Trenton Corby
Alterion® NE Celebrates 10 Years of Poultry Gut Health Innovation
The Science Behind Kolin Plus: Beyond Choline Replacement
Summer Infertility in Sows: Managing Heat Stress and Reproductive Performance
AO-Biotics® Amaferm®: Supporting Livestock Digestion and Performance
Interview with Güner Gövenç
nutriNews International Technical Team
Net Energy and Precision Feeding Shape the Future of Poultry Nutrition
Edgar Oviedo
Mycotoxins in Swine: Health Risks and Nutritional Solutions
Giuseppe Carcò
Mycotoxins and Piglet Ear Necrosis: Cause, Cofactor or Coincidence?
Alberto Morillo
How Mycotoxins Affect Intestinal Health in Pigs and Poultry
Marcos Rostagno
From Antibiotics to Functional Feeds in Aquaculture
Babatunde Saliu
Peas as an Alternative to Soybean Meal in Beef Cattle Finishing Diets
Sandra Costa-Roura
Improving Egg Yolk Pigmentation Through Better Nutrient Transport
Aquaculture and Aquaponics Nutrition: How Fish Shape the Growth of Greens
Trenton Corby
Consistency in Soybean Meal Drives Performance and Sustainability
