Role of Biochar as a Feed Additive on Animal Performance, Digestibility, Micro-Biota Dynamics, and Reduction of Enteric Methane Production

Abstract

Biochar is a carbonaceous material resulting from the pyrolysis of biomass carried out in a rotary kiln with little oxygen. Biochar provides many advantages for animal nutrition when utilized as an ingredient in a blended product, including improved animal feed digestibility, reduced enteric methane production, and increased livestock growth performances for different animal species. For instance, the inclusion of biochar increases body weight gain for fatten bulls from 479 to 481 kg, dairy cows from 94.3 to 96.6 kg, layers from 1.2 to 1.3 kg, broilers from 1.8 to 2 kg, Pig from 36.5 to 40.5 kg, goat from 17.4 to 18.6 kg, and for Sheep from 22.1 to 25.2 kg. The inclusion of biochar feed additives in animal feed is important in satisfying the production performance of the animal. Feed additives are the most important source of feed supply to livestock production. Including biochar in animal feed results in greater feed conversion rates, digestion, body weight gain, growth rate, and microbiota production in the rumen. In addition to this, it can decrease the synthesis of intestinal methane production in different livestock breeds. In cattle, it can reduce from 30% to 40%, in goat from 0.033 to 0.02 mL/g, and in Poultry from 101.3 to 55.1 mL/g. In general, the importance of biochar as a feed additive, such as its direct effects on animal growth performance, feed digestibility, microbiota dynamics, and lowering enteric methane production in animal diets, is summarized in this review.