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Elmi A, Correa F, Ventrella D, Scozzoli M, Vannetti NI, Govoni N, Truzzi E, Belperio S, Trevisi P, Bacci ML, Nannoni E. Can environmental nebulization of lavender essential oil (L. angustifolia) improve welfare and modulate nasal microbiota of growing pigs? Res Vet Sci 2024; 171:105251. [PMID: 38554612 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The use of phytoextracts has been proposed as a method to improve animal welfare, also in pigs, by reducing stress and anxiety and improving performances. Lavandula angustifolia (Miller) essential oil (LaEO) is an interesting calming phytoextract that could be administered by inhalation for prolonged periods of time to help pigs coping with on-farm conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of daily inhalation of vaporized LaEO on pigs' welfare and health indicators, and nasal microbiota, trying to understand whether this phytoextract represents a feasible tool to improve animal welfare under intensive farming conditions. Eighty-four crossbred barrows were randomly divided into 3 experimental groups: control (C); lavender (L): 3 vaporization sessions of 10 min each of a custom made 1% solution of LaEO; sham (S): same vaporization sessions of L group but only using the solution vehicle. Experimental readouts included growth parameters, behavioural traits, tail and skin lesions, hair steroids and nasal microbiota. L group animals did not show altered growth performance and seemed calmer (increased recumbency time), with decreased amount of skin lesions also associated with lower severity class for tail lesions. They also showed decreased CORT/DHEA ratio, potentially suggesting a beneficial effect of LaEO. Inhalation of LaEO significantly affected the nasal pig microbiome by reducing its diversity. Overall, the study suggests how inhalation of Lavender essential oil may be capable of improving welfare in growing pigs, yet it is pivotal to consider the microbial modulatory capabilities of essential oils before exploiting them on larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Elmi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Correa
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Domenico Ventrella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Scozzoli
- SIROE - Italian Society for Research on Essential Oils (Società Italiana per la Ricerca sugli Oli Essenziali), Viale Regina Elena, 299, Roma 00161, Italy
| | - Niccolò Ian Vannetti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadia Govoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eleonora Truzzi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Simona Belperio
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Trevisi
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eleonora Nannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Nannoni E, Martelli G, Scozzoli M, Belperio S, Buonaiuto G, Vannetti NI, Truzzi E, Rossi E, Benvenuti S, Sardi L. Effects of Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Fattening Heavy Pigs Intended for Parma Ham Production. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2967. [PMID: 37760366 PMCID: PMC10525193 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We assessed the effects of inhalation administration of lavender essential oil (LEO) either once (L1) or twice (L2) a day on animal welfare indicators, carcass and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs. Pigs (n = 108) were allotted to three experimental groups (control -C-, L1 and L2) and lavender was administered, via a vaporizer device, to the treated groups during the entire fattening-finishing period (79-160 kg BW). Tail lesion severity was reduced in L1 at the end of the trial compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Body lesion counts, however, were higher in L2 than in C (p < 0.05), resulting in a more severe overall damage classification (p < 0.01). At slaughter, no differences were observed in carcass traits or blood stress indicators, only minor differences were observed in meat quality, and no LEO residual was found in fat or lean tissues, highlighting the preserved suitability of thighs for the dry curing process. While it was not possible to conclude on the ability to improve animal welfare of vaporized LEO in this production phase, the absence of adverse effects on meat quality and the discrepancies observed regarding the body lesions in L1 and L2 make further studies on behavioral aspects and the method of administration (route, frequency) of the product desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Nannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
| | - Giovanna Martelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
| | - Maurizio Scozzoli
- Italian Society for Research on Essential Oils (Società Italiana per la Ricerca sugli Oli Essenziali—SIROE), Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Simona Belperio
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
| | - Giovanni Buonaiuto
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
| | - Niccolò Ian Vannetti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
| | - Eleonora Truzzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (E.T.); (E.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Enrico Rossi
- Department of Life Sciences, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (E.T.); (E.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Stefania Benvenuti
- Department of Life Sciences, Via G. Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (E.T.); (E.R.); (S.B.)
| | - Luca Sardi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (E.N.); (S.B.); (G.B.); (N.I.V.); (L.S.)
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