Essencial oil of thyme (thymus vulgaris) as feed supplementation on ruminal fermentation, immune response, milk production and quality

• Grant number: 14/01212-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Roma Júnior
• Grantee: Luiz Carlos Roma Júnior
• Host Institution: Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ana Maria Centola Vidal ; Eduardo Suguino ; Fernando André Salles ; Karina Pfrimer ; Márcia Saladini Vieira Salles ; Norberto Peporine Lopes ; Osvaldo de Freitas

Abstract

Among the components of milk that are evaluated by the industry and monitored by the operative legislation, the somatic cell count is what has been considered the biggest challenge to improving the quality of milk. This concern with the somatic cell count is through this relationship with mastitis, antibiotic use for its control and decreased milk production, bringing harm to the entire dairy agribusiness system. The search for alternatives to antibiotic use has stimulated much research on medicinal plants. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of inclusion of Thyme in the diet of lactating cows on ruminal fermentation, immune response, milk production and quality. Over 3 steps the study will approach aspects such offering in the diet and the impact of this on the refrigerated final product. To evaluate the inclusion of Thyme, will be used ruminal fermentation parameters, proximate analysis, somatic cell count, microbiological profile of the mammary glands and the evaluation of the immune system. As a result, it is expected to find an alternative method for reducing somatic cell counts associated with less use of antibiotics by using phytotherapics in the diet of lactating cows. Another important point is the expansion of this area of research combining phytotherapics in diet and milk quality, helping dairy farmers, from the smaller until the biggest milk producer whether organic production or the conventional one. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASTRO FILHO, EDIVILSON SILVA; ROMA JUNIOR, LUIZ CARLOS; BERTOCCO EZEQUIEL, JANE MARIA; VIEIRA SALLES, MARCIA SALADINI; COSTA ALMEIDA, MARCO TULIO; PEREZ, HENRIQUE LEAL; SUGUINO, EDUARDO; CASTELLO BRANCO VAN CLEEF, ERIC HAYDT. Effect of thyme essential oil supplementation on feed intake, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood parameters and in vitro methane yield of Nellore cattle. LIVESTOCK SCIENCE, v. 244, FEB 2021. (14/01212-4)

CASTELANI, LIVIA; PFRIMER, KARINA; GIGLIOTI, RODRIGO; VAN CLEEF, ERIC HAYDT CASTELLO BRANCO; SALLES, MARCIA SALADINI VIEIRA; ROMA JUNIOR, LUIZ CARLOS. Effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil supplementation on the microbiological quality of raw milk of lactating dairy cows. Research in Veterinary Science, v. 161, p. 4-pg., 2023-08-01. (14/01212-4)