Animal food supplement for cows, chickens and other farm animals
At present some 90% of the Biochar produced in Europe is marketed as an animal food supplement where 1% Biochar Powder is mixed in with the animal feed. Studies have shown that when used as a dietary supplement for cows and chickens substantially improves their health, 25% faster increase in the weight of the animals, increases milk production and the laying of quality eggs, reduction or elimination of the need for antibiotics & growth hormones, and as an additive to the animal bedding substrate for chicken coops and cow barns which reduces or eliminates foot infections of the animals due to the Biochar's absorption of moisture and ammonia which reduces harmful bacterial growth, substantial reduction of odours. (See Journal Article)
Biochar is truly a game changer for animal health & increased growth rates.
Biochar stands to revolutionize the animal feed space by decreasing diseases and related veterinary costs, while increasing growth rates.
The cascaded use of Biochar in animal farming
- Silage agent
- Feed additive/supplement
- Litter additive
- Slurry treatment
- Manure composting
- Water treatment in fish farming
Different to its application to fields, a farmer will notice its effects within a few days. Whether used in feeding, litter or in slurry treatment, a farmer will quickly notice less smell. Used as a feed supplement, the incidence of diarrhea rapidly decreases, feed intake is improved, allergies disappear, and the animals become calmer. In Germany, researchers conducted a controlled experiment in a dairy that was experiencing a number of common health problems: reduced performance, movement disorder, fertility disorders, inflammation of the urinary bladder, viscous salivas, and diarrhea. Animals were fed different combinations of charcoal, sauerkraut juice or humic acids over periods of 4 to 6 weeks. Experimenters found that oral application of charcoal (from 200 to 400 g/day), sauerkraut juice and humic acids influenced the antibody levels to C. botulinum, indicating reduced gastrointestinal neurotoxin burden. They found that when the feed supplements were ended, antibody levels increased, indicating that regular feeding of charcoal and other supplements had a tonic effect on cow health. Visit the Ithaka Journal online (http://www.ithaka-journal.net) for in-depth articles on the use of Biochar in cattle and poultry farming, as well as many of the other uses.
Studies have shown:
- Animals gain weight 25% faster with the same rations
- Significantly reduces methane emissions from the cow (I.e., reduces burping and gas)
- Reduces antibiotic use
- Reduces somatic cells while increasing the amount of milk production
- Prevents mastitis
- Biochar passes in the feces and then acts as nutritional fixator that prevents it from seeping into the water
- Reduces fecal odors and improves the quality of compost
- Animals are generally healthier and don't get sick, thus saving substantially on veterinary expenses
Peer review articles on the subject
- The use of biochar in animal feeding
- Study of Supplementation of Various Levels of Biochar on Health and Production Performance of Growing Local Turkey (Meleagris gallopova) Poults
- Feed supplementation with biochar may reduce poultry pathogens, including Campylobacter hepaticus, the causative agent of Spotty Liver Disease
- Can Biochar Improve the Sustainability of Animal Production?
- Biochar as a feed additive for improving the performance of farm animals
- A Review of Biochar Properties and Their Utilization in Crop Agriculture and Livestock Production
