Effect of adding biochar to the diet and litter on the rate of diet consumption, relative humidity and gut health of broilers (Ross308)

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of adding biochar to the diet and litter on growth performance and broilers the hock burn and footpad dermatitis. In the experiment, 300 One day old chicks were randomly distributed to 5 treatments 3 replicates each treatment , with (20) birds per replicate and with an average weight (39.7) g. T1: Without adding biochar in the diet and litter. T2: (2) kg of biochar / 100 kg of diet). T3: (4 kg of biochar l / 100 kg of diet). T4: (2 kg of biochar / 100 kg of litter). T5: (4 kg of biochar / 100 kg of litter) . The results of the statistical analysis of the weekly diet consumption rate indicated a significant superiority of the treatments of adding biochar to the diet over the treatments of adding biochar to the litter and the control group . While the results of relative humidity, level ammonia NH3 level indicated that adding biochar to the litter treatments recorded the best results compared to the group adding biochar to the diet and the control group. As for the results of the microbial characteristics, it was shown that the treatments of adding biochar to the diet recorded the best results compared with the group adding biochar to the litter and the control group, which recorded a decrease in the number of colon bacteria and an increase in the number of lactic acid bacteria. While the relative humidity results indicated that adding biochar to the litter treatments recorded the best results compared to the group adding biochar to the diet and the control group.
 The aim of this study is to evaluate biochar as a food additive and a positive stimulant of the intestinal flora in maintaining the health of the broiler digestive system. Besides, due to its absorbent properties, it can reduce the moisture content of the litter and improve the overall environment of broiler breeding halls.