Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine two different biochars as a component of compound feed regarding their effects on nutrient digestibility and performance parameters in growing pigs. A total of 18 male, intact piglets (N = 18) with 26 days of age and an initial bodyweight of 6.88 kg were divided into three homogeneous groups of six animals each (n = 6). Treatments were control (CON, no addition of biochar), 2% biochar 1 (BC 1, diet containing 2% biochar 1), and 2% biochar 2 (BC 2, diet containing 2% biochar 2). Before the start of the trials, the biochars were characterized regarding Brunnauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, surface energy, humidity, and ash content. During the first trial (weeks 1–6) a 3 × 3 Latin square was used to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of all three feed in each animal (N = 54, n = 18). By start of the second trial on day 42, three new homogenous groups were formed with two animals from each of the previous groups. Each group received one of the three diets for 4 weeks. In the first trial, the ATTD of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, crude fiber, and N-free extract was higher (p < 0.05) in pigs fed the biochar diets (BC1 and BC2) than in those animals fed the control diet. The greatest difference was found for ATTD of crude fiber, which was increased by 19.8 and 23.8%, respectively (CON: 30.8b ± 13.4%; BC 1: 38.4a ± 8.2%; BC 2: 40.4a ± 12.2%). ATTD of crude protein was only higher in BC 2 compared to CON (CON: 81.0b ± 4.1%; BC 1: 82.4ab ± 3.6%; BC 2: 84.2a ± 3.4%). In both trials, the different treatments revealed no effects on ADFI, ADWG or G:F (p > 0.05). The results indicate that no negative effects can be expected when 2% biochar is included in the feed for growing pigs.
Highlights
In order to withstand economic pressure, modern livestock farming must become increasingly efficient (De Clercq et al, 2018; Isermeyer, 2020)
Adding biochar to the complete feed for pigs could be beneficial for various reasons such as improvement of animal health, binding of feed contaminants (Schmidt et al, 2019) and reduction in greenhouse gases by applying the manure containing the biochar to the soil (Lehmann et al, 2006; Fowles, 2007)
The effects of two different biochars on the performance, e.g., bodyweight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency as well as on the nutrient digestibility in growing pigs were of particular interest
Summary
In order to withstand economic pressure, modern livestock farming must become increasingly efficient (De Clercq et al, 2018; Isermeyer, 2020). Society as well as politics demand a change toward sustainable agriculture (Darnhofer et al, 2016; Franková and Cattaneo, 2018) These problems are a burden on agriculture in general and on pork production in Biochar on Pig Nutrient Digestibility particular. Different kind of (trunk) woods as well as other organic materials like rootstocks, harvest leftovers, cotton fibers, and fermentation residues from biogas plants can serve as such biomass (EBC, 2012; Chia et al, 2015). Biochar has an immense internal surface area due to its extremely porous structure, enabling biochar to absorb gases, inorganic nutrients, and soluble organic matter (Thies and Rillig, 2009). Biochar influences the microbial activity by serving as an electron mediator (Chen et al, 2014; Kappler et al, 2014; Sun et al, 2017), and can alter the microbial composition (Teoh et al, 2019; Terry et al, 2019)
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