Book chapter
Biochar as an animal feed ingredient
Biochar for Environmental Management, 3rd Edition, pp.735-757
Routledge, 3rd Edition
2024
Abstract
The inclusion of biochar in diets for fish, poultry, and monogastric and ruminant livestock is increasingly being evaluated as a means to achieve environmental and productivity goals. The positive effects of dietary biochar inclusion on animal or bird health when the diet or environment contains toxins, such as aflatoxins in feed or ammonia in pond water for fish or shed atmosphere for poultry, are well established. These health benefits often feed through to improved animal productivity. When no toxins are present, the feeding of biochar is less likely to improve livestock productivity. Studies to assess whether the inclusion of biochar in the diet will reduce the emission of enteric methane from ruminants have shown very diverse results associated with diverse biochars being evaluated. Laboratory studies indicate some biochars are effective in methane mitigation but there are few animal feeding studies, and fewer still with emission data arising from robust measurement programs. Customization of dietary biochars to adsorb hydrogen and methane and react with reactive oxygen species may offer a means to reduce net methane output from ruminant livestock.
Details
- Title
- Biochar as an animal feed ingredient
- Authors
- Roger Hegarty - University of New EnglandStephen Joseph - UNSW SydneyMelissa Rebbeck - Climate and Agricultural Support Pty Ltd (Australia)Sarah Meale - University of QueenslandNicholas Paul - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Contributors
- Johannes Lehmann (Editor) - Cornell UniversityStephen D Joseph (Editor) - UNSW Australia
- Publication details
- Biochar for Environmental Management, 3rd Edition, pp.735-757
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Edition
- 3rd Edition
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003297673-29; 10.4324/9781003297673
- ISBN
- 9781003297673
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991014388602621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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