In Vitro and In Vivo Comparisons of Activated Charcoal and Biochar as Dietary Treatments for Controlling Boar Taint

Activated charcoal (AC) is an adsorbent that can prevent the accumulation of boar taint-causing compounds in the fat, but is not an approved dietary additive for livestock animals. Biochar (BC) is a similar feed-approved charcoal adsorbent that may be an alternative dietary additive to control boar taint. This study was conducted to evaluate AC and BC, both in vitro and in vivo, as dietary treatments for boar taint. This was done by first conducting an in vitro binding study to compare binding between AC, BC, and spent filter aid (SFA) for boar taint compounds. Results of the in vitro study showed that both AC and BC had significantly higher <i>B_max</i> for androstenone (AC: 97.2 ± 0.4% and BC: 84.5 ± 0.8%) and skatole (AC: 106.1 ± 0.2%, BC: 113.2 ± 0.7%), compared to SFA with a <i>B_max</i> of 50.5 ± 0.2% for androstenone and 97.1 ± 5.3% for skatole. AC and BC were then tested as feed additives in finisher diets fed to slaughter weight boars. Both adsorbents were successful at preventing boar taint in a subset of animals (83%), while having no effect on plasma levels of estrone sulfate or androstenone, and growth and performance parameters. These findings suggest that BC is a suitable alternative for AC as a dietary additive to prevent boar taint.