Abstract
1. Benchaar C., Calsamiglia S., Chaves A.V., Fraser G.R., Colombatto D., McAllister T.A., Beauchemin K.A., 2008. A review of plant-derived essential oils in ruminant nutrition and production. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 145, 209–228, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anif.... CrossRef Google Scholar
Highlights
Various publications highlight the effects of phytogenic compounds and essential oil (EO) based feed additives in ruminants, though the results are controversial. Santos et al (2010) found that an essential oil mixture (EOM) decreased dry matter intake (DMI) in dairy cows, but did not affect milk yield, while milk fat content increased. Giannenas et al (2011) demonstrated an increase in milk production in ewes after EO supplementation and Benchaar et al (2006) suggested that EOs have the potential to increase feed efficiency (FE) in beef cattle. Tager and Krause (2011) found that EOM dietary inclusion did not affect DMI, milk yield and composition in lactating dairy cows
FE was increased as an effect of EO supplementation (1.84 vs 1.80, P = 0.001), if body weight and pre-experimental FE were respected as co-variates
Apart from the aforementioned effects, EO compounds could enhance stress resilience in dairy cows and thereby stabilize milk yield. They could serve as alternatives to banned feed antibiotics, which were used as promoters of the animal performance (Hashemzadeh-Cigari et al, 2015; Kim et al, 2016)
Summary
Various publications highlight the effects of phytogenic compounds and essential oil (EO) based feed additives in ruminants, though the results are controversial. Santos et al (2010) found that an essential oil mixture (EOM) decreased dry matter intake (DMI) in dairy cows, but did not affect milk yield, while milk fat content increased. Giannenas et al (2011) demonstrated an increase in milk production in ewes after EO supplementation and Benchaar et al (2006) suggested that EOs have the potential to increase feed efficiency (FE) in beef cattle. Tager and Krause (2011) found that EOM dietary inclusion did not affect DMI, milk yield and composition in lactating dairy cows. Various publications highlight the effects of phytogenic compounds and essential oil (EO) based feed additives in ruminants, though the results are controversial. Santos et al (2010) found that an essential oil mixture (EOM) decreased dry matter intake (DMI) in dairy cows, but did not affect milk yield, while milk fat content increased. Apart from the aforementioned effects, EO compounds could enhance stress resilience in dairy cows and thereby stabilize milk yield. They could serve as alternatives to banned feed antibiotics, which were used as promoters of the animal performance (Hashemzadeh-Cigari et al, 2015; Kim et al, 2016)
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