The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds

The implementation of new technologies and best practices on factory farms is crucial for reducing the environmental pollution burden. This study aimed to evaluate the use of natural sorbents in the cows’ diet to reduce gaseous pollutants released on the farm and the content of faecal biogenic compo...

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Main Authors: Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek, Łukasz Wlazło, Jolanta Król, Katarzyna Karpińska, Mateusz Ossowski, Hanna Bis-Wencel, Wojciech Ospałek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/643
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author Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek
Łukasz Wlazło
Jolanta Król
Katarzyna Karpińska
Mateusz Ossowski
Hanna Bis-Wencel
Wojciech Ospałek
author_facet Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek
Łukasz Wlazło
Jolanta Król
Katarzyna Karpińska
Mateusz Ossowski
Hanna Bis-Wencel
Wojciech Ospałek
author_sort Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek
collection DOAJ
description The implementation of new technologies and best practices on factory farms is crucial for reducing the environmental pollution burden. This study aimed to evaluate the use of natural sorbents in the cows’ diet to reduce gaseous pollutants released on the farm and the content of faecal biogenic compounds. To this end, a mixture of natural sorbents (65% beechwood biochar, 25% aluminosilicate, and 10% glycerine) was added to cows’ feed. Pollutants released from all groups of cows were continually monitored on the farm during the experiment. Blood samples were also collected from the cows for haematological and biochemical analysis to determine the sorbents’ impact on their health. The average level of gaseous pollutants in the air on the farm were highest in the control group and lowest in the experimental groups. The levels of NH<sub>3</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, and H<sub>2</sub>S were statistically significant at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the added sorbents effectively reduced gaseous pollutants without adversely affecting the health of cows. Natural additives in the cows’ diet, including sorbents, bind harmful substances such as NH<sub>3</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub>, which are common gaseous by-products of digestion. This leads to improvements in animal welfare and the natural environment.
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spelling doaj-art-b2431979dacd44c3bd79423af2a8363a2025-08-20T02:59:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115564310.3390/ani15050643The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic CompoundsBożena Nowakowicz-Dębek0Łukasz Wlazło1Jolanta Król2Katarzyna Karpińska3Mateusz Ossowski4Hanna Bis-Wencel5Wojciech Ospałek6Department of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Quality Assessment and Processing of Animal Products, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Hazards, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Science in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, PolandThe implementation of new technologies and best practices on factory farms is crucial for reducing the environmental pollution burden. This study aimed to evaluate the use of natural sorbents in the cows’ diet to reduce gaseous pollutants released on the farm and the content of faecal biogenic compounds. To this end, a mixture of natural sorbents (65% beechwood biochar, 25% aluminosilicate, and 10% glycerine) was added to cows’ feed. Pollutants released from all groups of cows were continually monitored on the farm during the experiment. Blood samples were also collected from the cows for haematological and biochemical analysis to determine the sorbents’ impact on their health. The average level of gaseous pollutants in the air on the farm were highest in the control group and lowest in the experimental groups. The levels of NH<sub>3</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, and H<sub>2</sub>S were statistically significant at <i>p</i> < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the added sorbents effectively reduced gaseous pollutants without adversely affecting the health of cows. Natural additives in the cows’ diet, including sorbents, bind harmful substances such as NH<sub>3</sub> and CH<sub>4</sub>, which are common gaseous by-products of digestion. This leads to improvements in animal welfare and the natural environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/643dairy cowsgaseous pollutantsgreenhouse gasesbiogenic substancesnatural sorbentsenvironment
spellingShingle Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek
Łukasz Wlazło
Jolanta Król
Katarzyna Karpińska
Mateusz Ossowski
Hanna Bis-Wencel
Wojciech Ospałek
The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
Animals
dairy cows
gaseous pollutants
greenhouse gases
biogenic substances
natural sorbents
environment
title The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
title_full The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
title_fullStr The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
title_full_unstemmed The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
title_short The Use of Natural Sorbents in Cow Feed to Reduce Gaseous Air Pollutants and Faecal Biogenic Compounds
title_sort use of natural sorbents in cow feed to reduce gaseous air pollutants and faecal biogenic compounds
topic dairy cows
gaseous pollutants
greenhouse gases
biogenic substances
natural sorbents
environment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/5/643
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