Biochar in feed for broiler chickens
Project overview
Participants
More related research
Short summary
The purpose of this project is to develop scientific basis that makes it easier for Swedish chicken farmers to determine whether it is justified to add biochar to chicken feed.
Biochar is currently used primarily as a soil improver. In animal husbandry, biochar can be used as an additive in bedding to bind water and nutrients, thereby reducing ammonia emissions from the bedding. Another alternative is to add biochar to the animals' feed. In this project, we want to develop scientific evidence that makes it easier for Swedish chicken farmers to decide whether it is justified to add biochar to chicken feed.
Biochar has the ability to bind mold toxins and anti-nutritional substances in feed, and can also bind certain bacteria that are harmful to chickens. Biochar can thus contribute to the development of a stable and well-functioning environment in the chicken's intestine. A healthy, well-functioning intestine is a prerequisite for a robust chicken, and is particularly important as a large part of the chicken's immune system develops in and originates from the intestinal mucosa. International studies have shown that chickens fed biochar in their feed have better litter and higher growth rates, with improved intestinal health and nutrient utilization cited as possible explanations. At the same time, there is a risk that the biochar in the chicken's intestines will bind to nutrients, which impairs the chicken's ability to absorb the nutrients in the feed. The level of biochar added and its properties are likely to be of great importance. The raw material and temperature used in the production of biochar have a major impact on the biochar's ability to bind both liquids and nutrients.
An initial chicken trial is studying the effects of different levels of biochar supplementation on growth, feed utilization, immune status, vitamin absorption, and which bacteria dominate in the chickens' gastrointestinal tract. The amount of ammonia emitted from manure is also being analyzed. The study will provide answers as to what is the optimal level of biochar in feed for broiler chickens. Once we know which inclusion level works best, we will move on to evaluating whether feed with the optimal inclusion of biochar can alleviate symptoms in chickens affected by coccidiosis. Coccidiosis is caused by the intestinal parasite Eimeria, which is common in poultry.
Project group:
Eva Wattrang (SVA), Robert Söderlund (SVA), Kristina Mjöfors (RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB), Anna Silvera (Svensk Fågel), Maja Hoffer (Lantmännen Lantbruk), Søren Krogh Jensen (Aarhus University), Helena Wall (SLU), Emma Ivarsson (SLU) and Nathaniel Nutsugah (SLU).
Doctoral student:
Nathaniel Nutsugah, nathaniel.nutsugah@slu.se
What is biochar?
Biochar is produced in the same way as “regular” charcoal, through pyrolysis (oxygen-free combustion), but at a higher temperature and with incomplete combustion, which results in a more stable charcoal. Since biochar decomposes much more slowly than the organic material from which it is produced, biochar acts as a carbon sink in the soil. Biochar is currently used primarily as a soil improver because it increases the soil's water retention capacity and binds nutrients for a longer period of time. In fertilizers, biochar reduces ammonia losses, which is beneficial for the fertilizer's nutritional value and the global environment.