Introduction
The challenge of feeding an ever-increasing global population has been a persistent concern, intensifying with the projected rise to 9.6 billion people by 2050 (Nadathur et al., 2017; Gadzama et al., 2025). While agricultural production has generally kept pace with demand (FAO, 2023), the environmental consequences of food production, particularly from the livestock sector, have become a critical focus (FAO, 2023). The livestock industry contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with estimates ranging from 11–20%, and beef cattle production is a major contributor (FAO, 2023). Enteric methane (CH4) production from ruminants, a potent GHG, accounts for a substantial portion of these emissions (Jacobs, 2015; Gadzama, 2024; Gadzama, 2025). Historically, improving food production has focused on increasing efficiency and yield (Thornton, 2010). However, the growing awareness of climate change and the environmental footprint of agriculture has spurred research into sustainable solutions that balance food security with environmental responsibility (Harrison et al., 2016). Recent advancements in animal nutrition and waste management technologies offer promising avenues for mitigating the environmental impact of livestock while ensuring adequate food supply for the future.
Biochar Application in Animal Feeding and Manure Management
What is Biochar?
Biochar is a dark-black carbonaceous material (similar to charcoal) produced from biomass through pyrolysis under low oxygen conditions at temperatures as high as 700°C (Figure 1) (Lao & Mbega, 2020). Like charcoal and activated carbon, it is a pyrogenic carbon-rich substance derived from organic feedstocks such as sewage sludge, agricultural residues, and other organic wastes (Man et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021). Due to its porous structure and stability, biochar is widely used in environmental remediation, soil enhancement, and carbon sequestration (Wang et al., 2021).
Figure 1. Biochar
Source: https://biochar.id/biochar-mungkin-adalah-inovasi-terbesar-selama-bertahun-tahun/
Biochar Production and Properties
Biochar is produced by heating carbonaceous materials in a low-oxygen environment (pyrolysis) at temperatures typically below 800°C9 (Figure 2). The characteristics of the resulting biochar, such as its chemical composition, porosity, surface area, and pH, are significantly influenced by the biomass source and the pyrolysis conditions. Post-pyrolysis treatments can further modify these properties.
Figure 2. Biochar production
Modified from Zulfiqar et al. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1018646
Biochar as a Feed Additive
Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomass pyrolysis, has emerged as a promising tool in animal agriculture (Schmidt et al., 2019). Traditionally used for its medicinal properties in animals, its application as a regular feed supplement has gained traction since 2010 (Schmidt et al., 2019). Studies suggest that biochar supplementation can improve animal health by adsorbing toxins and volatile compounds in the gut (Sun et al., 2018; Schmidt et al., 2019). Furthermore, it has been shown to enhance feed efficiency and even reduce GHG emissions potentially (Sun et al., 2018; Schmidt et al., 2019).
Research has explored the effects of biochar on various livestock species, including beef cattle (van Lingen et al., 2019), dairy cattle (Hatew et al., 2015; Ni et al., 2024), and sheep (Bilotto et al., 2024; Burezq & Khalil, 2025). A review of 112 scientific publications up to 2019 indicated predominantly positive effects of biochar on parameters such as toxin adsorption, digestion, blood values, feed efficiency, meat quality, and GHG emissions across different farm animal species (Schmidt et al., 2019). While some studies reported statistically non-significant results, the general tendencies were positive (Schmidt et al., 2019).
However, the effectiveness of biochar can vary depending on its feedstock and thermochemical processing conditions, influencing its properties (Chen et al., 2024). Some studies have also identified rare negative effects, such as the potential immobilization of liposoluble feed ingredients like vitamin E and carotenoids, which might limit long-term biochar feeding (Schmidt et al., 2019). Additionally, many studies have not systematically investigated the impact of varying biochar properties and dosages, making it challenging to generalize findings (Schmidt et al., 2019).
Impact of Biochar on Holstein Steers
Ni et al. (2024) found biochar, with or without enrichment, had no significant effect on rumen fermentation, rumen pH, and methane emissions when incorporated into an oaten hay diet, with only minor influences on liquid and solid rumen microbial communities. The finding by Ni et al. (2024) that biochar did not reduce methane emissions contradicts other research where biochar supplementation led to methane reduction (Leng et al., 2012a, 2012b). The authors (Ni et al., 2024) suggest that factors like particle size variation, adsorptive potential, and the ability to influence biofilm formation could contribute to the variable effects of biochar on methane. However, the lack of change in Methanobrevibacter abundance in this study (Ni et al., 2024) further supports the ineffectiveness of biochar in reducing methane emissions in this context.
Recent studies show mixed results on using biochar in cattle feed. For example, Parra et al. (2023) found that pyrolyzed activated carbon (PAC) at a concentration of 0.5% reduced in vitro CH4 emissions by 33.8% in dairy cows. Tamayao (2021) reported that the inclusion of biochar did not significantly affect total gas or CH4 production compared to the control. The study used biochars pyrolyzed at 450 °C, unlike some other research using biochars pyrolyzed at higher temperatures. Dittmann et al. (2024) found no significant reduction in CH4 emissions in vivo with biochar supplementation, which is consistent with some previous studies (Sperber et al., 2022). This suggests that the application of biochar as a feed additive might not be a universally effective strategy for methane mitigation in all in vivo settings. The lack of a consistent effect across studies warrants further investigation into the specific conditions and types of biochar that might influence methane production.
https://southlandcarbon.co.nz/our-produce/
Impact of Biochar on Sheep
The study by Burezq and Khalil investigated the impact of biochar supplementation (produced from date palm fronds via pyrolysis at 550 °C) on methane gas emissions and enteric fermentation in Naeemi ewes. The authors found that feeding ewes a basal ration with 1% biochar significantly reduced methane emissions 65.58% to 78.39% over the 63-day experiment. Furthermore, Burezq and Khalil (2025) found that feeding Naeemi sheep with biochar led to a significant increase in body weight (63.66 kg) and growth rate (length: 79.3 cm, waist: 81.75 cm, and height: 99.76 cm) compared to the control group (average body weight: 58.91 kg; length: 75.21 cm, waist: 78.17 cm, and height: 94.21 cm). The biochar-supplemented group also exhibited a significantly higher average body condition score (BCS) of 3.56 compared to the control group's 2.83. The authors attributed this to the positive impact of biochar on fat gain and enhanced nutrient utilization. The researchers concluded that biochar could act as a binding agent, reducing nutrient loss and potentially improving gut health by creating a favorable environment for beneficial bacteria.
Biochar in Broiler Diets
Cheron (2017) conducted two experiments to evaluate sugarcane biochar as a feed additive in commercial broiler diets. In the first experiment, Cheron (2017) reported that the dietary inclusion rate of biochar affected average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F). Specifically, broilers fed a diet containing 4% biochar had a lower G:F ratio compared to those fed 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, or 2.0% biochar. Additionally, Cheron (2017) found that birds fed 0.5% biochar had a higher ADG compared to those fed 2.0% or 4.0% biochar. However, Cheron (2017) noted that average daily feed intake (ADFI) and bone breaking strength (BBS) were not affected by the dietary inclusion rate of biochar in the first trial. In terms of fecal analysis in the first experiment, Cheron (2017) observed no significant effects of biochar inclusion on fecal nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or dry matter (DM) concentrations. In the second experiment, with a wider range of biochar inclusion rates (0% to 2%), Cheron (2017) found that none of the dietary biochar inclusion rates affected ADG, ADFI, G:F, or BBS. These results indicate that broilers can tolerate dietary biochar inclusion up to 2.0% without negatively impacting performance (Cheron, 2017). However, high inclusion rates of biochar (4%) could negatively affect growth performance (Cheron, 2017). Previous research also reported reduced performance with high levels of poultry litter biochar (Evans et al., 2015). This could be due to the nutrient-binding effect of biochar in the digestive tract (Cheron, 2017).
Source: https://manilastandard.net/?p=314360401
Impact of Biochar on Catla Catla Fish
Khalid et al. (2022) investigated the impact of various biochar supplements on nutrient digestibility and growth performance of Catla catla fingerlings fed a diet based on Moringa oleifera seed meal (MOSM). The study found that poultry waste biochar at a concentration of 2 mg/kg in MOSM-based diets can optimize growth performance and nutrient utilization in C. catla fingerlings. Furthermore, the same poultry waste biochar resulted in optimum nutrient digestibility, with the highest fat digestibility (81.90%), protein digestibility (75.92%), and gross energy digestibility (74.84 kcalg⁻¹). This is consistent with findings in other livestock species, where biochar has shown beneficial effects on digestion and nutrient metabolism (Kalus et al., 2020; Al-Azzawi et al., 2021). In contrast, the diet supplemented with parthenium biochar showed the minimum growth performance.
Source: https://greenmanchar.com.au/blogs/the-green-mans-blog/biochar-and-animal-husbandry-part-3
Biochar in Manure Management
Beyond its use as a feed additive, biochar has been investigated as a surficial treatment for livestock manure and emissions from stored or composted manure (Chen et al., 2024). The application of biochar to manure aims to mitigate gaseous emissions such as odor, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and GHGs (Chen et al., 2024). As biochar passes through the animal's digestive system, it becomes enriched with nitrogen-rich organic compounds. This excreted biochar-manure can then serve as a more valuable organic fertilizer, potentially leading to lower nutrient losses and reduced GHG emissions during storage and soil application (Schmidt et al., 2019).
Laboratory-scale trials have shown encouraging results regarding the efficacy of biochar treatment in reducing manure emissions (Chen et al., 2024). However, further research is needed to demonstrate its mitigation performance at larger, farm scales (Chen et al., 2024). Standardizing and certifying biochar properties suitable for specific environmental management applications are also recommended to ensure consistent and predictable outcomes (Chen et al., 2024). The potential synergy between mitigating emissions and improving manure quality highlights biochar as a comprehensive solution that could enhance the sustainability of both animal and crop production systems (Chen et al., 2024).
Conclusion
This review shows that biochar could be used as a feed additive in livestock systems with various impacts. While biochar production can be energy efficient and utilize waste biomass, its effects, particularly on enteric methane emissions from cattle, are inconsistent in both in vitro and in vivo experiments and warrant further investigation.
Further Research
More in vivo research to understand the optimal biochar source, production methods, inclusion rates, and their interactions with different diets and animal types is required.
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