The Influence of Essential oils Supplementation on Yield and Quality of Sheep milk

Abstract

Throughout the world major proportion of milk is obtained from large dairy animals, cows and buffaloes, however there is a considerable proportion of milk yield obtained from small dairy animals, sheep and goats. The share of milk production by sheep in total milk yield of the world is small because of different breeds having different genetic potential of milk production, managemental factors, environmental factors, nutritive factors, etc. The sheep milk is important because of cheese making. Due to microbial resistance, risk of drug residues either in milk, meat, or in eggs are dangerous for humans beings. So therefore the use of these synthetic compounds to improve immunity, health (antibiotics are used for growth promotion), and productivity (hormones are used to boost the milk production) in dairy animals is discouraged and the European Union has banned the use of these synthetic compunds in animals. So the phytobioactive compounds, essential oils, are used in feeds or rations of dairy animals to increase their production. These compounds are added not only to improve the milk yield but also to improve fat, protein and lactose contents of milk. The essential oils added in the diets of small dairy animals are usefull to counter the negative energy balance as well as the fatty acid profie to increase the quality of sheep milk.