Abstract
Simple SummaryIncreasing feed efficiency and decreasing environmental impact are key targets in ruminant sciences. This meta-analysis suggested that supplementation of lactating dairy cows with the essential oil blend Agolin Ruminant® (at 1g/d per cow) during a period greater than 4 weeks had a positive effect on milk yield (+4%) and decreased methane emissions (−10%) without affecting feed intake and milk composition. Although the mode of action is still unclear, this nutritional strategy seems to represent an encouraging alternative to improve productivity in commercial farms.There is an increasing pressure to identify feed additives which increase productivity or decrease methane emissions. This paper aims to elucidate the effects of supplementing a specific essential oils blend Agolin® Ruminant on the productivity of dairy cows in comparison to non-treated animals. A total of 23 in vivo studies were identified in which Agolin was supplemented at 1 g/d per cow; then a meta-analysis was performed to determine the response ratio on milk yield, rumen fermentation, methane emissions and health. Results indicated that an adaptation period of at least 4 weeks of treatment is required. Whereas short-term studies showed minor and inconsistent effects of Agolin, long-term studies (>4 weeks of treatment) revealed that Agolin supplementation increases milk yield (+3.6%), fat and protein corrected milk (+4.1%) and feed efficiency (+4.4%) without further changes in milk composition and feed intake. Long-term treatment also decreased methane production per day (−8.8%), per dry matter intake (−12.9%) and per fat and protein corrected milk yield (−9.9%) without changes in rumen fermentation pattern. In conclusion, despite the mode of action is still unclear and the small number of studies considered, these findings show that Agolin represents an encouraging alternative to improve productivity in dairy cows.
Highlights
Dairy production faces numerous global challenges, while milk demand is globally rising; increasing concerns appear over its environmental impact including methane (CH4 ) emissions, and the transfer of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans [1]
This meta-analysis showed that dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by Agolin supplementation, possibly because in 5 studies the total mixed rations (TMR) was offered at 95% of ad libitum to ensure uptake
Most studies conducted in mid-lactating cows agreed that Agolin had a positive effect on milk yield [11,12,13,15], one study with a large number of early-lactating cows reported no effect on milk yield but increased milk fat percentage [10], while two studies in late-lactation noted a small decrease in milk yield but associated to an increase in milk fat percentage [8,16]
Summary
Dairy production faces numerous global challenges, while milk demand is globally rising; increasing concerns appear over its environmental impact including methane (CH4 ) emissions, and the transfer of antibiotic resistance from animals to humans [1]. In response to these concerns more efficient and safe animal production systems need to be developed. The use of EO or their active ingredients have shown positive results on reducing CH4 emissions in in vitro batch cultures, whereas no or only a transient effect on the rumen fermentation pattern was found in continuous cultures or in vivo [3,4]
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