What is it?
Oregano is a herb, and its oils have broad-spectrum antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [1], [2]. These properties can be attributed to the carvacrol found within oregano, which also has uses in the food and cosmetic industries. Supplementing feed with oregano has been shown to improve growth performance and feed efficiency, and is also believed to alter the rumen microbiome (i.e., the microbes present within the first stomach) and promote feed digestibility [1].
Challenges
- Feed supplementation with oregano (or carvacrol directly) is more common in the poultry and dairy cattle industries than in the beef cattle industry.
- Adding additional feed supplements is an additional cost to the producers.
How Does it Prevent AMR?
Adding oregano to feed is suggested to alter the rumen microbiome and strengthen immune function, reducing the need for antimicrobials.
The product is added to feed and is meant to promote gut health.
Research Gaps
Product/Service Gaps
References
[1] R. Zhang et al., ‘Oregano Essential Oils Promote Rumen Digestive Ability by Modulating Epithelial Development and Microbiota Composition in Beef Cattle’, Front. Nutr., vol. 8, 2021, Accessed: Aug. 25, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.722557
[2] Z. E. Suntres, J. Coccimiglio, and M. Alipour, ‘The Bioactivity and Toxicological Actions of Carvacrol’, Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr., vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 304–318, Feb. 2015, doi: 10.1080/10408398.2011.653458.
