Use of biochar by sheep: impacts on diet selection, digestibility, and performance

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of biochar obtained from exothermic production of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) on sheep performance and diet digestibility, and on preference for a ration enriched with this carbon-based material. Twenty-four lambs were housed in individual pens and assigned to one of three treatment groups (8 animals/group), where they received: 1) a 60:40 ration of alfalfa:barley (Control), 2) an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous ration with alfalfa, barley and 2% biochar (BC), and 3) a simultaneous offer of the Control and BC rations (Choice). Lambs were exposed to two consecutive feeding periods (Periods 1-13 d, and 2-21d), representing time intervals where the evolution of intake, animal performance and rumen parameters were assessed; in vivo digestibility was determined during the last 5 d of the study. Ration intake did not differ among groups of lambs (P > 0.10), although during some days in Period 2 intake was greater for the BC and Choice groups than for the Control group (P < 0.05). Lambs in Choice had a lower preference for BC than for the Control ration (Period 1: P < 0.05; Period 2: P < 0.10), although they incorporated a substantial amount of BC (39 and 40%, for Periods 1 and 2, respectively) into their diets. No differences in body weight gains (ADG) or gain-to-feed ratios were found among groups of animals (P > 0.10), although DMD and DDMI was greater for lambs in the BC group than for lambs in Control (P < 0.05). The ruminal concentration of the volatile acid acetate in Period 2 was greater for BC than for Choice (P < 0.05). During the same period, the concentration of valerate and ruminal pH values were greater in BC than in Control (P < 0.05). Thus, the addition of biochar to grain-based diets enhanced diet digestibility and influenced some ruminal parameters in lambs. Nevertheless, these positive effects were not reflected in significant improvements on ADG or feed conversion efficiencies. Lambs offered choices between Control and BC rations formed a diet with concentrations of biochar of ~1.2%, suggesting that these animals would tolerate such levels without reductions in ration palatability.

Review: Heads or Tails? Toward a Clear Role of Biochar as a Feed Additive on Ruminant’s Methanogenesis

“…Terry et al [73] found no effect on body weight gain or DM intake in beef steers up to 2% biochar, but lean meat yield increased with the highest biochar level tested (2%). In lambs, 2% biochar kept feed intake and average daily gain unaffected, and improved DM intake [71], while up to 1.5% biochar was found to maintain DM intake and increase average daily gain and feed conversion ratio [72]. In addition, milk production of cows fed 0.5% (DM basis) activated carbon was improved [74].…”

Biochar for agronomy, animal farming, anaerobic digestion, composting, water treatment, soil remediation, construction, energy storage, and carbon sequestration: a review

“…Silivong and Preston determined that supplementing goats diets with 1.1% biochar increased their weight by 8.9%, improved their feed conversion ratio from 15.5 to 11.4, and improved their digestibility (Silivong and Preston 2015 ). McAvoy et al ( 2020 ) investigated the effect of co-feeding quaking aspen and lodgepole pine biochar on the digestibility of the diet and overall sheep performance. They discovered that supplementing lambs' diets with biochar boosted digestibility and intake, as well as acetate generation.…”

In Vitro Evaluation of the Adsorption Efficacy of Biochar Materials on Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A, and Zearalenone

“…Charcoal and biochar from a variety of sources have been shown to increase feed conversion and increase body weight in broilers and strengthen eggshells, depending on the amount of material included in the feed supply [60][61][62]. Sheep demonstrated increased digestibility of feed that included biochar without an impact on weight gain [63]. Recently, it was shown that activated carbon could bind aflatoxin B 1 , deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone [5].…”