The Impact of Essential Oil Feed Supplementation on Enteric Gas Emissions and Production Parameters from Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Societal pressure to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle continues to increase. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the commercial essential oil feed additive Agolin® Ruminant on reducing enteric gas emissions and improving milk parameters in dairy cattle. Twenty mid-lactation Holstein cows, blocked by parity and days in milk, were randomly assigned to a top dress treatment with Agolin or an un-supplemented control for a 56-day trial. Cows were group housed and individually fed twice daily. Enteric gas emissions, including methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrous oxide, were sampled every 14 days for a 12 h period via head chambers connected to a mobile air quality laboratory. Cows supplemented with Agolin versus the control had less methane intensity (g/period/kg energy-corrected milk (ECM); p = 0.025). Ammonia was the most affected gas, with lower ammonia production (mg/period; p = 0.028), and ammonia intensity (mg/period/kg ECM; p = 0.011) in Agolin-fed versus control-fed cows. All cow performance variables, including dry matter intake, ECM, milk fat, milk protein, or feed efficiency were similar between treatments. Further research should evaluate how Agolin impacts ruminal flora, focusing on mechanistic impacts to fermentation.

Evaluation of Agolin<sup>&reg</sup>, an Essential Oil Blend, as a Feed Additive for High Producing Cows

“…In addition, methane intensity (g/kg ECM) was reduced by 9.9% on average and CH 4 output was reduced in all trials in which it was measured [6]. A subsequent feeding experiment [7] further confirmed the methane intensity reducing potential for Agolin at 11.1%, along with a reduction in NH 3 intensity of 16.0%.…”

Feed intake, emission of enteric methane and estimates, feed efficiency, and ingestive behavior in buffaloes supplemented with palm kernel cake in the Amazon biome

“…Alternative ingredients such as co-products, secondary plant compounds, essential oils, and lipids still show inconsistent results in mitigating methanogenesis, ranging from substantial reduction ( 24 – 26 ), to stability or a modest increase in enteric emissions ( 27 – 29 ).…”

Impact of essential oils on methane emissions, milk yield, and feed efficiency and resulting influence on the carbon footprint of dairy production systems

“…Much recent scienti c research relating to the use of essential oils and plant substances has been carried out. Due to their antimicrobial properties EOs have been shown to have a speci c effect on rumen bacteria related to altered fermentation in the rumen (Carrazco et al, 2020). The changes in rumen micro ora could result in a reduced enteric methane production.…”