Essentials Oils and Rumen Microbial Populations

Abstract

In recent years there has been observed an increased interest in the potential use of plant essential oils rich in secondary metabolites to modify rumen fermentation. The goal of such modifications is to increase the efficiency of the symbiosis between ruminant and rumen microorganisms in order to improve profits in animal feeding without negative impact on environment. Essential oils belong to the group of natural components and may affect rumen fermentation processes, among others microbial populations. The action of essential oils can be considered in the aspect of synergism and antagonism of components that are present in essential oils but also that are present in the animal diets. The research are carried out to determine the effect of essential oils and their active substances on rumen fermentation parameters and to find out whether they can be used as feed antibiotics alternatives in ruminant feeding. On the basis of the performed research and the available literature, it can be stated that it is possible to use essential oils as alternatives for growth-promoting antibiotics, but before their commercial application in animal feeding, several issues must be evaluated, among other things interactions of (i) essential oils and the type of feed, (ii) essential oils and geographical region, which is connected with species of microflora inhabiting the rumen.