Thymus plant in animal nutrition: Review

Aromatic plants such as thyme have been shown promising results as a natural feed additive in livestock feed due to the presence of bioactive compound in the herb. Carvacrol and thymol are among essential oil extracted from thyme with high phenolic contents used for commercial interest. Essential oil components extracted from thymus plants are used widely in pharmaceutical application and exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenesis, anti-inflammatory and used as immunostimulants without residual effect like synthetic antibiotics. Thyme essential oil had also the ability to inhibit methanogenic microbes; addition of essential oil to the rumen can reduce methane emitted from ruminant animals. The aerial part of thyme contains a high amount of carbohydrates and a low concentration of tannin. Incorporation of thyme in animal nutrition as a powder or essential oil extract form can promote growth, productive and reproductive performance, increase feed intake, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, increase carcass quality, reduce morbidity and mortality rate. This paper aims to review the beneficial application and recent finding of thyme in livestock feed