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Livestock Feed Additives
By introducing biochar to the diet of livestock, we expect many benefits for animals and farmers alike. We expect an increased rate of growth and of terminal size, an increase in meat or milk production (animal specific), improved animal health and well-being, reduced mortality rates and reduced vet costs. In addition, feeding biochar to livestock reduces methane emissions from the animals directly and via their manure.
Currently, we are performing test trials and collect experiences.
We can document succsessful trials with Turkeys and pigs, increasing both animal welfare and profits for the farmer (see below). Trials with dairy cows are still going on and are not conclusive yet. However, blending biochar into cow manure for the use in compost, reduces the CO2 imissions from cow manure by up to 79%, according to UC Davis.
Symbolic photo
Feed Additives for turkeys
Location:
Our German partner conducted trials with high quality biochar as feed additives for turkeys. The trial took place at Europe's largest turkey farm with 36 employees in Germany. The farm is proud of their exceptional top standard hygiene, rearing and fattening methods and preventative healthcare systems.
Date: October 2023
Application method:
Two groups of turkeys (about 100 birds per group) were held and fed in two different sheds/houses separated from each other in order to avoid any cross-contact with other turkey stocks and a generous spatial separation of the other houses is taken care of in order to avoid possible pathogen transfers.
The two groups were fed in accordance to the same feed table, with the only difference, that one group got biochar blended into their feed, the control group not. The biochar was interspersed into the feed and fed through feeders.
Results:
In total, the farm paid €1.49 per animal for biochar during the entire 22 week fattening period. The farm usually gets €1.79 per kg meat for the birds and made an additional profit of €3.60 per bird fed with biochar as feed additive, compared to the birds just fed with their standard feed only.
There are additional advantages for the farm, such as a reduced vet costs and reduced cost for medicine.
In addition, in the European market consumers are highly concerned about the amount of antibiotics in meat products. Premium prices are paid for meat without antibiotics.
Animal welfare:
The farm reported that the birds fed with biochar looked healthier compared to the group without biochar (see photos). In addition, the group fed with biochar did not need any antibiotics against the usual claw disease. The shown photos explain the difference of appearance of the birds in the different groups.
Photo left: With biochar feed additive
Photo right: Without biochar feed additive
Feed Additives for pigs
Location:
A German pig fattening farm made biochar trials with a total population of 960 pigs over a fattening period of 80 days.
Date: January 2024
Application method:
A total of 480 pigs have been considered the control group, which got the same feed as the biochar group. The biochar group of 480 pigs was fed in addition to the normal feed also a certain amount of biochar during the fattening period.
In total, 2,000 volume liter of high quality biochar was fed to the 480 pigs of the biochar group over the trial period of 80 days. The biochar was blended into the liquid feed via a drug dispenser.
Results:
At the end of the 80 days fattening period, each of the 480 pigs in the biochar group gained in average 3kg more weight each, compared to the control group. The sales price for each kg living pig was €2.00 ($2.19).
Hence, the following calculation applies:
Cost of biochar per animal €3.18. Cost for 480 pigs €1,526.40
Additional revenue per animal €6.00 Add. revenue 480 pigs €2,880.00
Profit per animal €2.82 Profit with 480 pigs €1,354.00
Animal welfare:
The farmer reported that the pigs did not bite the tails of each other anymore after a period of 3 days feeding biochar, and the pigs had no longer diarrhea after one week feeding biochar. The possible gains of reduced vet costs and pharmaceuticals have not been recorded.
Symbolic photo
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