Die Bodenkultur - Journal for Land Management, Food and Environment

K. Zitterl-Eglseer, W. Wetscherek, A. Stoni, A. Kroismayr and W. Windisch:

Bioavailability of essential oils of a phytobiotic feed additive and impact of performance and nutrient digestibility in weaned piglets

Summary

In a feeding trial involving 120 weaned piglets the phytobiotic feed additive Biomin® P.E.P 1000 (essential oils blended derived from oregano, anise and citrus peels) was compared with the antibiotic growth promoter avilamycin and a negative control group.
The main compounds of the phytobiotic zootechnical additive, carvacrol and thymol, could be recovered in the bloodplasma, faeces and the tissue of the kidney by means of solidphase microextraction interfaced with GC/MS analysis.
Residues of the components of the essential oil and derived metabolites could not be detected in different meat samples.
The significant improved digestibility confirmed the optimised conditions in the gut caused by a reduction of the activity of microorganisms and therefore an enhanced absorption of nutrients and zootechnical performance were shown in the groups with Avilamycin and essential oils. Key words:  Piglets, oregano, avilamycin, essential oil, carvacrol, thymol, bioavailability, nutrient digestibility.