April 7, 2009

Feeding fish with food blended with ground bamboo charcoal can be a natural way to boost growth and enhance the efficiency of aquaculture, according to a study by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) under the Council of Agriculture in Taiwan.

The results of the study came from feed trials in which fish food containing ground bamboo charcoal were fed to tilapia.

Fish fed with ground bamboo charcoal showed better weight gain, growth and length-weight factor compared with those on a normal diet.

Results also showed that using ground bamboo charcoal and bamboo vinegar simultaneously produced better results than using ground bamboo charcoal alone.

Previous experiments indicated that wood charcoal and wood vinegar could yield similar results, the FRI said.

Feed that incorporates ground wood charcoal and wood vinegar could improve fish growth and the feed conversion rate, and boosts the fish's immunity against diseases, according to FRI.

The institute also said giving ground wood charcoal and wood vinegar to scads decreases fat accumulation in the abdomen of the fish, and reduces the relative ratios of body weight to liver weight, thus increasing their meat content.

The study said using the ingredients to raise carp can help to ease the negative impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on the environment.

The strong absorptive properties of charcoal can also deodorize and decompose harmful chemical substances, and bamboo charcoal works better in this aspect because of its uniform and compact texture, the FRI said.

Application of bamboo charcoal in animal husbandry has also produced good results, for example, feeding hogs with it can relieve gas and diarrhea and boost the animals' appetite, the FRI said.

When used for chicken farming, it can also make the meat more tender, increase egg-laying rates and reduce the stench of chicken litter.