The Application of Essential Oils in Livestock as an Alternative to Feed Antibiotics

Abstract

The applying of antibiotics in animal husbandry leads to the spread of antimicrobial resistant pathogens among domestic animals, which are subsequently transmitted to humans through the food chain. The analysis of literature data on the results of the study of phytochemicals of plant origin in the form of essential oils of medicinal and aromatic plants as one of the possible alternatives to feed antibiotics is presented. Such additives should reduce the incidence of animals by inhibiting pathogenic microflora, provide the animal with a larger amount of energy and nutrients by reducing the bacterial load in the intestine, reduce internal inflammatory processes by improving the immune system, and should be economically beneficial. A review of scientific studies showed that essential oils do have bactericidal properties, but their effect on the productive performance of animals still requires further research. Differences in animal productivity when using essential oils may be due to researchers using different doses, different test conditions (especially climatic conditions), and possible synergistic and antagonistic properties of essential oils with other feed substances.