Effect of Oregano, Cumin and Cinnamon Essential Oils on Fermentation Quality in Alfalfa Silages

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the oregano (OEO), cumin (CEO) and cinnamon (CINEO) essential oils on fermentation quality, metabolic energy (ME) contents and relative feed value (RFV) of alfalfa silages.Material and Methods: Alfalfa was harvested in the end of April, at the early bloom-stage, was wilted for 3 hours and chopped to approximately to a size of 2.0 cm. OEO, CEO and CINEO essential oils were added as additivies in an amount of 600 mg/kg wet chopped alfalfa, yet no additives were added to the control (CONT) group. The packages of silage were kept in a covered storage (18±4 °C) for 60 days for fermentation.Results: The addition of cumin and cinnamon led to a significant increase in dry matter (DM) (P<0.05). The addition of essential oils at high level caused an increase in lactic acid (LA), while the amount of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) decreased inversely correlated with LA (P<0.05). The treatment was increased lactic acid bacteria (LAB) numbers, and also caused a decrease in the number of yeast and mould at a significant level (P <0.05). All three essential oils led to a decrease in pH, the amount of weigth loss (WL) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). In the cumin and cinnamon essential oil treatments increased amount of enzimatic solubility organic matter (ESOM) (P<0.05).Conclusion: It was concluded that OEO, CEO and CINEO promote to increase LAB population. In addition, MEESOM content calculated through ESOM was increased in OEO and CINEO treatments.