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This chapter examines the use of plant extracts as dietary supplements in dairy cow nutrition, specifically focusing on plant essential oils. The chapter begins by reviewing the ruminal effects of essential oils, drawing specific attention to their mechanisms of action, how targets are selected to modulate ruminal fermentation to improve efficiency and the effects that essential oils have on rumen fermentation both in vitro and in vivo. The chapter also discusses the post ruminal effects of essential oils, their impact on dairy cattle performance and the current problems farmers are facing in the use of essential oils in dairy cattle feeding. A case study using in vitro batch fermentation studies is also included.
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Ruminal effects of essential oils
- 3 Postruminal effects of essential oils
- 4 Impact of essential oils on dairy cattle performance
- 5 Current problems in the use of essential oils in dairy cattle feeding
- 6 Case study
- 7 Conclusion and future trends
- 8 Where to look for further information
- 9 References