A broad range of plant materials have been cultivated for their medicinal properties by human civilisations throughout history. For example, essential oils, herbs and spices are well recognised for their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, as well their ability to act as appetisers to help boost food intake when fed to livestock.
Phytogenics are substances of botanical origin, which when fed to livestock have a beneficial impact on animal performance. For example, nutritionists are now finding novel ways to mitigate acidosis in dairy cows based on new, in depth understanding of rumen fermentation kinetics. And dietary inclusion of specifically selected and blended essential oils – to help increase desirable propionic acid production rather than lactic acid – can help change the way fermentation happens in the rumen to produce a better animal performance outcome.