Biochar as an animal feed ingredient

Biochar has found its way into soil, compost, construction, and even filtration systems—but its potential in animal feed is still emerging. The idea is simple: feed small quantities of biochar to livestock to improve gut function, reduce toxin uptake, and potentially deliver other benefits like better digestion and lower emissions. It’s not a nutrient supplement, but rather a functional additive—acting more like a detoxifier or digestive aid than a source of calories or protein.

Biochar used in feed works in a similar way to activated carbon. It adsorbs toxins, gases, and potentially harmful microbes in the digestive tract. This helps prevent absorption of mycotoxins and other contaminants from feed, while also binding excessive ammonia or hydrogen sulfide in the gut. The result is often improved gut health, better feed efficiency, and reduced odor or gas in manure. These effects are modest in scale but can be significant in operations where animals are under stress or exposed to suboptimal feed quality.

Studies across various species—poultry, cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep—have shown that small additions of biochar (typically 0.1% to 1% of dry matter intake) can improve performance metrics. These include weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and sometimes even immune markers or disease resistance. In some trials, fecal pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella were reduced, suggesting biochar’s role in altering microbial populations in the gut or reducing pathogen viability in manure.

The benefits extend beyond animal health. When biochar is excreted in manure, it enters the manure management system and eventually the soil. There, it continues to function—reducing nutrient leaching, retaining nitrogen, and improving composting behavior. In effect, feeding biochar to animals becomes a delivery mechanism for distributing biochar in agricultural systems without separate application steps.

However, biochar is not regulated as a feed ingredient in most jurisdictions, and its safety must be demonstrated for each species and production system. Feed-grade biochar must be free of contaminants—no heavy metals, no residual tars or PAHs, no ash or silica that could damage gut tissues. Biochars used in feed are typically high-temperature, low-ash, and made from clean, woody biomass. Particle size matters: fine enough to mix uniformly in feed but not so fine as to pose inhalation risk during handling.

There’s historical precedent for this kind of use. Burnt wood and charcoal have been used as folk remedies for digestive issues in both humans and animals for centuries. Modern versions build on this tradition but use controlled materials and standardized testing. Activated carbons are already used in veterinary medicine for toxin exposure, and biochar offers a lower-cost, milder alternative for routine inclusion in feed.

Some concerns have been raised about mineral adsorption. Biochar may bind beneficial nutrients along with toxins, potentially reducing the bioavailability of certain trace elements. This risk appears minimal at low inclusion rates, but still needs to be considered in feed formulation, especially for diets already near the lower limit of micronutrient adequacy. On the other hand, some biochars can serve as carriers for mineral supplements, improving retention and reducing excretion.

Emission reduction is another promising area. Feeding biochar to ruminants has been shown to reduce enteric methane production in some studies, likely by influencing rumen fermentation pathways. In non-ruminants, benefits are more related to reduced nitrogen and odor emissions from manure. These reductions not only improve environmental performance but may also contribute to carbon credit systems, if supported by appropriate verification protocols.

In systems that co-locate pyrolysis and animal production—such as farms producing biochar from their own residues—feeding biochar can close material loops. Waste biomass becomes biochar, biochar becomes feed additive, and manure returns nutrients and carbon to the field. This circularity reduces waste, adds value to residues, and aligns with regenerative or climate-smart agriculture practices.

Despite these opportunities, scaling the use of biochar in feed requires further work. Dosing guidelines, species-specific trials, feed safety protocols, and cost-benefit analysis are still developing. Palatability is generally not an issue, but some animals may require gradual adaptation or mixing with carriers. Legal status varies, and in many regions, biochar must be registered or certified as a feed additive before it can be marketed for this purpose.

As a practical step, some producers mix small amounts of biochar into mineral licks, pelleted feeds, or fermented forages. Others include it in bedding or allow animals to browse post-fire landscapes, mimicking natural exposure. Whether through formal rations or ecological mimicry, biochar’s presence in animal systems appears compatible, with multiple points of benefit and relatively low risk when quality is controlled.

In summary, biochar in animal feed is a low-dose, high-impact intervention. It doesn’t replace feed, but it enhances the system—reducing toxins, stabilizing gut processes, improving manure quality, and potentially contributing to lower emissions. The science is still catching up with the practice, but the direction is clear: when used responsibly, feed-grade biochar can support both animal performance and environmental outcomes.