Effects of Adding Essential Oil to the Diet of Weaned Pigs on Performance, Nutrient Utilization, Immune Response and Intestinal Health

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding essential oils to the diet of weaned pigs on performance, nutrient utilization, immune response and intestinal health. A total of 96 weaning pigs (8.37±1.58 kg) were allotted to one of three dietary treatments. The treatments consisted of an unsupplemented basal diet (negative control, NC) or similar diets supplemented with 0.01% of an essential oil product which contained 18% thymol and cinnamaldehyde (EOD) as well as a diet supplemented with 0.19% of an antibiotic mixture which provided 150 ppm chlortetracycline, 80 ppm colistin sulfate and 50 ppm kitasamycin (positive control, PC). Each treatment was provided to eight pens of pigs with four pigs per pen. Over the entire 35 d experiment, ADG and fecal score were improved (p<0.05) for pigs fed the PC and EOD compared with the NC. Dry matter and crude protein digestibility as well as lymphocyte proliferation for pigs fed the PC and EOD diets were increased significantly compared with NC (p<0.05). IGF-I levels in plasma were significantly increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC diet compared with pigs fed the NC diet. Interleukin-6 concentration was lower (p<0.05) and the tumor necrosis factor-α level was higher (p<0.05) in the plasma of pigs fed the EOD diet than the NC diet. Plasma total antioxidant capacity level increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the EOD diet compared with pigs fed the NC. Villus height to crypt depth ratio in the jejunum was greater (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets than the NC. The numbers of E. coli in the cecum, colon and rectum were reduced (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets compared with the control. In the colon, the ratio of Lactobacilli to E. coli was increased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the EOD diet compared with NC diet. Total aerobe numbers in the rectum were decreased (p<0.05) in pigs fed the PC and EOD diets compared with the control. Collectively, these results indicate that blends of essential oils could be a candidate for use as an alternative to traditional antibiotics in weaning pig diets.

Review article: Herbal extracts and organic acids as natural feed additives in pig diets

“…Owing to the representative participation of bacterial protein in faecal total protein, increased pre-caecal digestive capacity should result in improved digestibility of protein in the diet. This observation supports the hypothesis that herbal extracts should stabilize digestive functions (Windisch et al, 2007;Li et al, 2012).…”

“…Some in vivo studies with pigs (Jug-Chizzola et al, 2005;Hagmüller et al, 2006;Li et al, 2012;Yan et al, 2012) have demonstrated the antimicrobial potential of herbal extracts to replace antibiotics in feeds. However, the data are too limited to allow reliable conclusions on the efficacy of phytogenic feed additives.…”

Essential oil and aromatic plants as feed additives in non-ruminant nutrition: a review

“…), 3% cinnamaldehyde ( Cinnamonum spp. ), and 2% capsicum oleoresin ( Capsicum annum )Weaned pigs3326−4Nofrarías, et al [11]Fennel100Fennel and caraway oil were obtained by steam distillation from fennel or caraway seedsWeaned pigs63−3Schone et al [12]Caraway1000−1−2EO blend100Buckwheat, thyme, curcuma, black pepper and gingerWeaned pigs0-3−4Yan et al [13]EO blend1,000 Cinnamomum verum, Origanum vulgare spp., Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus vulgaris and Rosmarinus Weaned pigs2-−2Huang et al [14]EO blend3004.44 g of anise oil, 1.30 g of clove oil, and 2.0 g of cinnamon oil/kg of additiveWeaned pigs105−4Maenner et al [15]EO blend30027.8 g of anise ( Pimpinella anisum) oil, 12.5 g of clove ( Syzygium aromaticum ) oil, and 46.0 g of peppermint ( M. arvensis ) oil/kg of additive74−3EO blend50Thymol, cinnamaldehydeWeaned pigs117−3Li et al [16]1002219−21502215−5EO blend1,000Oregano, which contained 60% active substance (Cymene, Terpinene, Carvacrol) and 40% carrier (dextrin)Weaned pigs22−1Zhang et al [17]Chinese medicinal herbs1,000 2 0% of each of Dioscoreaceae batatas, A. macrocephala, G. uralensis and Platycodon grandiflorum Weaned pigs16-−14Huang et al [18]3,00013-−11EO blend10018% thymol and cinnamaldehyde (EOD)Weaned pigs121−10Li et al [19]EO blend100Weaned pigs…”

Dietary supplementation of Digestarom® herbal formulation: effect on apparent digestibility, faecal and caecal microbial counts and live performance of growing rabbits

“…However, when essential oils are added to animal diets, results can vary greatly and the reason could be attributed to differences in the type and dose of the essential oils used (Li et al, 2012). In animals with a well-developed sense of smell, for example, if the dose used is too high, the strong smell and/or taste can negatively affect feed intake, thus compromising live performance.…”