Dietary biochar enhances growth performance and feed efficiency in growing pigs evidence from integrated...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar as a feed supplement for growing pigs. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis of biomass under low- or no-oxygen conditions, is widely used in agriculture due to its porous structure and high adsorption capacity. Recently, it has gained attention as a potential feed additive for livestock because of its ability to bind toxins and gut microbiota modulation. Although several farm trials have reported improved animal productivity with biochar supplementation, the underlying biological function remains largely unclear.

To identify candidate pathways associated with biochar supplementation, we performed transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) and proteomic (LC-MS) analyses on blood samples collected from pigs in 3% biochar-supplemented group and control group.

In this study, supplementing the basal diet with 3% biochar significantly reduced mortality (P < 0. 01) and improved the average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0. 01), leading to better overall growth performance in growing pigs. The results of transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) and proteomic (LC-MS) analyses demonstrated that biochar supplementation enhanced immune function. RNA-Seq analysis identified 524 differentially expressed genes (413 down-regulated and 111 up-regulated). Up-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway and the complement and coagulation cascades, whereas the most prominently down-regulated pathway was related to the cytoskeleton in muscle cells. Proteomic analysis identified a total of 892 proteins, of which 192 were up-regulated and 186 were down-regulated in the biochar group. Pathways associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and complement and coagulation cascades were up-regulated in proteomic analysis. In contrast, down-regulated proteins were primarily enriched in cytoskeleton-related processes in muscle cells, Salmonella infection, and IgSF CAM signaling pathways.

These findings indicate that dietary biochar supplementation improves the health and performance of growing pigs, at least in part, by modulating immune-related pathways. The combined transcriptomic and proteomic results provide new molecular insights into how biochar exerts its beneficial effects as a feed additive.