This study evaluated the effects of liquid oregano oil, chitosan nanoparticles with encapsulated liquid oregano oil, and a negative control of empty chitosan nanoparticles on in vitro ruminal fermentation. Three Boer goats were used as ruminal fluid donors, fed with a formulated ration for 21 d for inoculum adaptation. Treatments tested on in vitro assays were diet without oregano oil or nanoparticles (CON); diet with 100 ppm of oregano oil in nanoparticles (100N); diet with 300 ppm of liquid oregano oil (300L); diet with 300 ppm of oregano oil in nanoparticles (300N); and diet with 300 ppm of empty nanoparticles (300CHN). The variables studied were in vitro dry matter digestibility (ivDMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (ivNDFD_om), total gas production (TGP), ammonia nitrogen concentration (NH₃), and pH. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Linear and quadratic regressions were used to identify dependence and inflection points. The ivDMD increased at 12, 36, and 48 h, with 300N and with 300L exhibiting increased ivNDFD_om at 36 h. Ruminal pH was highest (p < 0.05) with 300CHN at 36 h. For first-order regression analysis of TGP, coefficients (β) were highest (p < 0.05) for 300N. In conclusion, 300N increased ruminal fermentation in vitro, as reflected by increases in ivDMD, ivNDFD_om, and TGP.

La población de cabras resalta en los países en desarrollo. México es un país en desarrollo, donde la producción de leche de cabra crece. Sin embargo, nuevos retos y áreas de oportunidad continúan atendiéndose. Un desafío es la preferencia del consumidor hacia el uso de alternativas naturales en la producción animal, y una de éstas son los aceites esenciales de plantas aromáticas. Los estudios comprueban que los aceites esenciales ejercen actividad antioxidante y antibacteriana selectiva en el rumen que mejora el comportamiento productivo y la composición de la leche. Aunque la información existente sobre su uso en cabras lecheras es limitada, el presente escrito recopila información sobre la producción de leche de cabra en México y el uso de los aceites esenciales de plantas aromáticas en dietas de cabras lecheras sobre la salud, producción y calidad de la leche. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tecnociencia.v15i3.839

En los rumiantes domésticos, algunos antibióticos como oxitetraciclina y neomicina son utilizados para evitar mermas productivas relacionadas con enfermedades ocasionadas por bacterias oportunistas. El uso de antibióticos en alimentos para animales ha sido objeto de alerta para la salud humana, por lo que se ha planteado explorar alternativas naturales, una de ellas son los aceites esenciales. El aceite esencial de orégano ofrece resultados prometedores para ser utilizado en la alimentación de rumiantes como alternativa a los antibióticos, demostrando el mecanismo de acción sobre E. coli, enriqueciendo el alimento, volviéndolo funcional y provocando cambios en las poblaciones bacterianas de prerrumiantes y rumiantes adultos.

Formula feeding is linked to the intensification of goat milk production, where milk replacers are increasingly used in artificial feeding. However, antibiotics are also added to their formulation as prophylactics, and essential oils are emerging as natural alternatives to avoid the use of pharmaceuticals. The objective of this study was to evaluate Mexican oregano oil (OEO) (Lippia berlandieri Schauer) as a natural alternative to antibiotics in a milk replacer for French Alpine goat kids (Capra hircus), assessing productive and blood parameters. A total of 18 two-week-old goat kids were subjected to treatment using a randomized complete block design, with six goat kids per group. The treatments were: Control, medicated milk replacer with 20 mg of oxytetracycline plus 40 mg of neomycin per 200 g of total solids (TS); OEO12, milk replacer plus 12 mg of OEO per 200 g of TS; and OEO24, milk replacer plus 24 mg of OEO per 200 g of TS. In the experiment, three pens were considered blocks, with two goat kids per treatment in each pen. Each goat kid was fed individually according to the experimental treatments for 21 days. Productive, morphometric, and blood variables were evaluated. The addition of oregano essential oil to the milk replacer for goat kids resulted in increased dry matter intake in groups OEO24 and OEO12; however, daily weight gain and feed efficiency were not affected. Group OEO24 showed higher albumin concentrations and lower lactate dehydrogenase concentrations. Other hematological variables were not affected by the treatments. In conclusion, the addition of essential oils improved the consumption of the antibiotic-free milk replacer and increased albumin concentration, positioning it as a good alternative to antibiotics, as it did not have negative effects on milk production.