The effect of powdered medicinal plants and essential oils on the rumen fermentation, blood parameters, production and composition of milk in Holstein lactating cows

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mixing five medicinal herbs, including garlic, eucalyptus, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint, as well as essential oils on the production and composition of milk and blood parameters of Holstein dairy cows. This experiment was carried out with 18 dairy cow in a completely randomized design with three treatments, a medicinal herb mix (HPM: 10 g/kg dry matter concentrate) and a mixture of herbal essential oil (EOM: 150 mg/kg dry matter concentrate) for 28 days and 6 cowfor each treatment. Daily milk production was measured at three times. In the final days of the experiment, blood and rumen fluid sampling was performed. Results indicated that milk production and its compounds were affected by experimental treatments, so that the use of EOM increased milk production compaired to control and HPM (25.9 vs. 27.37 and 24.72 kg/day), Protein (2.63 vs. 2.84 and 2.65 kg/day) and total solids content (8.84 versus 8.89 and 8.86 kg/day). Both HPM and EOM combinations reduced the concentration of total saturated fatty acids and increased the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05). The concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes and plasma triglyceride after food intake and total plasma protein concentration were measured before treatment (P<0.05).Generally, the use of herbal essential oils with an effect on the rumen fermentation pattern improves milk production in dairy cows and can change the composition of milk.