Oregano essential oil improves piglet health and performance through maternal feeding and is associated with changes in the gut microbiota.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With a growing demand for safe and sustainable alternatives to antimicrobials, functional feed ingredients such as plant essential oils have been evaluated for their potential to improve gut health. Amongst these, oregano essential oil (OEO) with the main active compounds carvacrol and thymol has been reported to have antimicrobial and antioxidative properties resulting in improved intestinal barrier function and growth in pigs and poultry. However, its impact on the gut microbiota still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an oregano essential oil phytobiotic on sow and piglet performance and faecal microbiota.

Results

Piglets from OEO supplemented sows were significantly heavier at one week of age and showed a trend for improved av

SUBMITTER: Hall HN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7934403 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature