ACTIVATED CHARCOAL DERIVATED FROM BIOCHAR AS A FEED ADDITIVE FOR GOATS: A RUMINAL ANALYSIS

Biochar, which is the product of biomass pyrolysis, has been suggested as a feed supplement to improve understanding of the rumen microbial ecosystem. The study aims to investigate the potential of activated charcoal to favorably modify rumen fermentation and reduce methane emission by measuring ruminal parameters, enzymes, and microbial communities. Thirty goats (weighing 14.35 ± 1.40 kg) were randomly put into three groups: a control diet group and groups with diet supplemented with activated charcoal at 50 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg. Each group comprised ten replicate pens. The basal diet contained 40% barley and 60% alfalfa hay, and diets were similar to isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The trial lasted 60 days following a 14-day adaptation. The biochar was obtained from pyrolysis of a river plant (Ceratophyllum demersum), impregnate with zinc chloride (ZnCl2), and went through the carbonization process at 700 ℃. Rumen fluids were sampled, filtered, and stored at -80 ℃ in liquid nitrogen to analyze eukaryotic diversity and enzyme activity; the rest was stored at -20 °C to measure fermentation parameters. The results showed that supplementation with activated biochar did not affect pH values and acetate/propionate molar ratio (P = 0.021). Ruminal ammonia (NH3-N), Total Volatile Fatty Acids, Acetate, and Butyrate (%) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at 50 mg and 150 mg activated charcoal groups, compared with control group. Supplementation with activated biochar increased the activities of CMCase, Xylanase, Pectinase, and α-amylase in the rumen, but β-glucosidase and protease were not affected. These changes were associated with improved growth performance in the goats. Overall, the interplay of biochar’s physical and chemical characteristics plays a major role in different living systems by influencing the different metabolic enzymes and processes, availability of different nutrients, and environmental conditions. Dietary supplementation with activated biochar increased total bacteria, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Rumonococcus albus, and Ruminococcus flavefaciens) and methanogenic, but did not affect protozoa. In conclusion, this study would further promote biochar applications in ruminal fermentation processes.