Investigating the Effects of Using of Biochar as a Replacement for Minerals Premix in Layers Diet on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Their Egg Shells

Biochar is a mineral compound with a low cost of production. This compound can also be used as a fertilizer in agriculture to help plants grow faster and is a main source of bioenergy for heating and cooking. The goal of this study was to investigate how replacement of biochar with a mineral supplement, as well as its interaction with vitamin C, would affect eggshell quality of laying hens. In a 5×2 factorial treatment design, 400 laying hens were randomly assigned to 10 treatments, 5 replications, and 8 laying hens for each repetition. Factors tested included biochar levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent replacement with mineral supplements of diet) and vitamin C levels (0 and 100 mg/kg of diet). The results showed that different experimental diets had no significant effect on eggshell quality (shell breaking strength, shell weight, eggshell thickness, and eggshell ash) of laying hens. The results revealed that biochar, due to its availability and easy production, can replace mineral supplements in laying hens’ diet, with no adverse effects on eggshell quality traits.