Background and Effects of Oregano Based Additive in Animal Nutrition
Willem Smink
Feed Innovation Services (FIS) BV
Wageningen, The Netherlands
In Europe, feed antibiotics as antimicrobial growth promoters to promote performance of the animals are banned since January 2006. Essential oils consists different properties such as flavor, immune stimulating, and antimicrobial, antiseptic, antifungal and anti-oxidant. Oregano oil and their components possess very strong antibacterial activities. These antimicrobial properties should be important for effects undesirable bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Clostridium. The use of specified oregano oil is a patented application in animal nutrition and is sold under the name Ropadiar® and developed by Ropapharm International BV. The mode of actions such as the antibacterial effect in vitro, in chickens and in piglets has been studied. Predominant compounds interact with the membranes of the bacteria by changing their permeability for cations like H+ and K+. The dissipation of ion gradients leads to impairment of essential processes in the cell and finally to cell death. In addition, the activity against parasites in fish systems has been studied. The supplementation of the specified natural oregano based additive did improve the health, growth and feed conversion efficiency in pig and poultry.
Willem Smink studied Animal Nutrition at the Wageningen University. After graduation he worked for TNO department Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition and the Dutch Bureau of Livestock Feeding. Since 1997 he is working for Feed Innovation Services (FIS) BV (www.fisbv.nl) in Wageningen, The Netherlands. In this capacity, he is advisor of Ropapharm International BV (www.ropapharm.nl) in Zaandam, The Netherlands.