Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum (Phytmax Beef Cattle) in beef cattle - Phytosolutions

Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum (Phytmax Beef Cattle) in beef cattle

Impact on Production Performance and Health Status During Adaptation

R. Compiani¹, C.A. Sgoifo Rossi¹, A. Pizzi¹, V. Dell’Orto¹

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The adaptation phase for feedlot calves that have just arrived at the feedlot is one of the most critical periods in the production cycle

Transport-related stress, sudden changes in diet, and exposure to new pathogens often result in reduced feed intake, slower growth, and increased health risks.

Therefore, identifying nutritional strategies that can improve the animals’ resilience during this stage is key to optimizing production efficiency.

Essential Oils

In this context, essential oils have attracted considerable interest in animal nutrition due to their ability to modulate ruminal fermentation and exert antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.

These compounds, rich in plant-derived secondary metabolites, have been extensively studied in ruminants for their potential to improve energy and nitrogen utilization, as well as for their possible positive interaction with the immune system.

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Field trial conducted on beef cattle

This article summarizes the results of a field trial conducted on beef cattle, the objective of which was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with a mixture of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum on production performance and various health indicators during the adaptation phase at the feedlot.

53 days
45 Charolais bulls
422 ± 29 kg average initial weight

The study was conducted over 53 days on 45 Charolais bulls imported from France, with an average initial weight of 422 ± 29 kg.

Upon arrival at the feedlot, the animals were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (21 animals) and a treatment group (24 animals). Both groups received the same management practices, the same unifeed ration administered ad libitum, and an identical health protocol.

Health Program

The health program included vaccinations against:

Bovine infectious rhinotracheitis (BHV-1).
Bovine viral diarrhea type 1 (BVDV).
Parainfluenza virus 3 (PI3)
Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV),
As well as antiparasitic treatment with ivermectin.
The BHV-1 booster vaccination was administered on day 25 of the trial.

The only difference between the two groups was that the treatment group received a supplement consisting of a mixture of essential oils—cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum—administered at a rate of 0.8 g per animal per day. The animals were weighed on days 0, 25, and 53 to calculate the average daily gain (ADG). In addition, blood samples were collected from a subgroup of animals on those same days to evaluate various parameters indicative of their health status.

Results

Production results showed a significant improvement in GMD in animals supplemented with the essential oil blend throughout the entire trial period.

The average gain was approximately 130 g per animal per day, a result that is particularly relevant from a practical standpoint in intensive fattening systems. During the first 25 days—which coincided with the period of greatest stress following arrival—a clear trend toward higher average daily gain (ADG) was observed in the treated group. From a health perspective, the supplemented animals showed a better immune response to BHV-1 vaccination, with significantly higher antibody titers on days 25 and 53.

Similarly, the serum’s bactericidal activity was higher in the treated group, exceeding the threshold considered indicative of adequate defense against pathogens. No differences were observed between groups in serum haptoglobin levels or reactive oxygen species, indicating that supplementation did not induce inflammatory processes or increase systemic oxidative stress. These results suggest that the observed improvement in production and health was not due to nonspecific activation of the immune system, but rather to better physiological adaptation in the animals.

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Essential oils optimize ruminal fermentation

The improvement in production performance can be explained, at least in part, by the ability of essential oils to optimize ruminal fermentation. Several studies have shown that cinnamaldehyde and eugenol can modify the profile of volatile fatty acids, reduce ammonia production, and decrease methanogenesis, which results in greater energy efficiency. This effect is particularly interesting in finishing diets, which are characterized by ruminal pH values between 5.5 and 6.5—a range in which the antimicrobial activity of essential oils is most pronounced.

In addition to their effect on digestion, the trial results suggest a possible positive interaction between essential oils and the immune system. The improvement in vaccine response and serum bactericidal activity could be related to both better nutritional status and the direct immunomodulatory effects of these compounds, an aspect that requires further research.

Conclusion

Overall, supplementation with a mixture of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum during the adaptation phase at the feedlot appears to be an effective nutritional strategy for improving production performance and enhancing the health status of feedlot cattle.

Its use can help reduce the negative impact of initial stress and improve the overall efficiency of the production system, in line with current demands for more efficient and sustainable animal production.

Key References

Benchaar C. et al. (2006). Effects of adding essential oils and monensin premix on digestion and ruminal fermentation in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 89, 4352–4364.
Busquet M. et al. (2005). Screening for the effects of natural plant extracts on rumen microbial fermentation. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 123–124, 597–613.
Busquet M. et al. (2006). Plant extracts affect in vitro rumen microbial fermentation. Journal of Dairy Science, 89, 761–771.
Cardozo P.W. et al. (2004). Effects of natural plant extracts on protein degradation and fermentation profiles. Journal of Animal Science, 82, 3230–3236.
Calsamiglia S. et al. (2007). Essential oils as modifiers of rumen microbial fermentation. Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 2580–2595.
Yang W.Z. et al. (2010). Cinnamaldehyde in feedlot cattle diets: intake, growth performance, and blood metabolites. Journal of Animal Science, 88, 1082–1092.
Compiani, R., et al. (2013). Administration of the essential oils cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum to beef cattle: effects on health status and growth performance. Trends in Veterinary Sciences.