The Applicability of Essential Oils in Different Stages of Production of Animal-Based Foods

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) have been used for centuries, and interest in these compounds has been revived in recent years. Due to their unique chemical composition as well as antimicrobial, immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, EOs are used in pharmacology, cosmetology and, increasingly, in animal breeding and rearing, and processing of animal raw materials. Essential oils have become a natural alternative to preservatives, taste enhancers and, most importantly, antibiotics, because the European Union banned the use of antibiotics in metaphylaxis in animal husbandry in 2006. In the animal production chain, EOs are used mainly as feed additives to improve feed palatability and increase feed intake, improve animal resistance and health status, and to prevent and treat diseases. Recent research indicates that EOs can also be applied to sanitize poultry houses, and they can be used as biopesticides in organic farming. Essential oils effectively preserve meat and milk and, consequently, improve the safety, hygiene and quality of animal-based foods. Novel technologies such as encapsulation may increase the bioavailability of EOs and their application in the production of food and feed additives.

Influence of Phytogenic Feed Additive on Performance of Feedlot Cattle

“…From the slaughter data, measurements of ribeye area indicated no influence of treatment other than what could be accounted for by the difference in hot carcass weight. Although not evaluated in this trial, supplementation of essential oils during the finishing phase have consistently improved meat shelf-life (Castillo et al, 2013;Mucha and Witkowska, 2021), as well as consumer preference (Guerrero et al, 2018;Ornaghi et al, 2020).…”

Anthelmintic Properties of Essential Oils to Control Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Sheep—In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

“…However, these obstacles may be circumvented by different encapsulation techniques that may protect the active substances from degradation and allow their better bioavailability and higher in vivo efficacy. Also, encapsulation may enable controlled release of active ingredients of EOs, as well as reduce their smell and taste that could be unpleasant for animals [20,24,44,47]. Another method is to change the means of application, such as to use lick blocks containing plant-based compounds that may provide long-term use.…”

“…The medicinal properties of EOs include anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anticancer, antispasmodic (and other positive impacts on the gastrointestinal tract), and even anti-anxiety properties, along with antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic effects [17,[20][21][22][23]. In veterinary medicine, EOs are increasingly used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, but are still preferable in monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry [22,[24][25][26][27]. Given their shown in vivo efficacy, they are also reflected in the many uses of EOs and their formulations in dogs and cats, i.e., against skin diseases caused by Malassezia pachydermatis [28], Otodectes cynotis [29], various ticks (Ixodes spp.…”

The Use of Essential Oils Against Sheep Gastrointestinal Nematodes

“…In veterinary medicine, EOs are increasingly used for the prevention and treatment of various animal diseases. Although this still mostly refers to monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry (Mucha and Witkowska 2021), some implications and reports suggest their possible use as anthelmintic agents in ruminants as well (André et al 2018). EOs may be obtained from plants by different methods of extraction, but the most common industrial methods are steam distillation and extraction with different solvents (Butnariu and Sarac 2018).…”