Charcoal to reduce ammonia fact or fiction?
https://academic.oup.com/japr/article/20/2/240/778452
This article was published in 2011. It was a study to see if adding char (NOT charcoal bricks from the grocery store) would reduce the ammonia generated by poultry.
We have a direct quote from the primary researcher:
From: Casey W Ritz
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: charcoal in feed
That's a story just won't go away! There should be a statute of limitations on the internet!
We actually have done three studies with no positive results. I guess I should publish it all just to help stop the surge of people wanting to make charcoal to feed to animals.
We are preparing a manuscript for JAPR to come out sometime this fall that will show that there is no benefit to feeding it to birds, either from an ammonia control standpoint or for improved growth parameters.
To this data, FDA has not approved it for routine animal feeding - only in the case of confirmed poisoning.
That's about it. Hope this helps to dispel any insinuations of charcoal successes!
****************************
Casey W. Ritz, Ph.D.
Professor/Extension Coordinator
Department of Poultry Science
The University of Georgia
306 Poultry Science Bldg
Athens, GA 30602
Office: 706-542-9139
Fax: 706-542-8383