
	Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
	Year: 2011 \| Volume: 6 \| Issue: 5 \| Page No.: 416-428 DOI: 10.3923/ajava.2011.416.428

Effects of Essential Oils on Rumen Fermentation, Microbial Ecology and Ruminant Production

Amlan K. Patra

Abstract: Essential Oils (EO) are volatile aromatic compounds extracted from whole plants and are secondary metabolites usually made up of terpenoids and phenylpropanoids. Plant EO has antimicrobial properties, which can be effective against undesirable rumen microbes. Therefore, recently it has been great interests among nutritionists and rumen microbiologists to exploit EO as natural feed additives to improve rumen fermentation such as volatile fatty acids production, inhibition of methanogenesis, improvement in protein metabolism and efficiency of feed utilization and increasing conjugated linoleic acids in ruminant derived foods. Different types of EO from a wide range of herbs and spices have been identified to have potential for rumen manipulations and enhancing animal productivity as alternatives to chemical feed additives. However, their effectiveness in ruminant production has not been proved to be consistent and conclusive. There are varying reports of EO on rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota and ruminant performance depending upon the dose, chemical structures of EO, feed composition and animal physiology, which have not always been adequately described in the literature. The comprehensive research based on individual components of EO, physiological status of animals, nutrient composition of diets and their effects on rumen microbial ecosystem and metabolism of EO will be required to obtain consistent beneficial effects.

PDF Fulltext XML References Citation Report Citation

RELATED ARTICLES:

•	Effects of Lemongrass Leaves as Essential Oil Sources on Rumen Microbial Ecology and Nutrient Digestibility in an in vitro System

•	Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils of Varthemia persica, Foeniculum vulgare and Ferula lycia

•	Chemical Compositions and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oils of Thymus vulgaris and Tanacetum parthenium

•	Effects of Glutamine and Malic Acid on Quality and Quantity of Essential Oil Components in Mentha spicata

How to cite this article:

Amlan K. Patra , 2011. Effects of Essential Oils on Rumen Fermentation, Microbial Ecology and Ruminant Production. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 416-428.

DOI: 10.3923/ajava.2011.416.428

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ajava.2011.416.428

COMMENT ON THIS PAPER

Navigation


		Online First
		Current Issue
		Previous Issues
		Editorial Board
		Submit a Manuscript
		Guide to Authors
		Subscribe to E-alerts

Indexed In


		ASCI-Database
		Asian Digital Library
		Cambridge Scientific Abstract
		Chemical Abstract Services
		Google Scholar

Science Alert