Natural herbs are being explored as nutritional enhancements of non-specific immunostimulators, altering microbial flora and reducing stressors and overall incidence of disease. A recent study feeding oregano dried leaf and flowers enriched with specific oils in pre-farrowing and lactation diets showed lowered mortality rates of sows (P < .003), lower sow culling (P < .02), increased farrowing rate (P < .01), increased liveborn per litter (P < .05) when tested over 1800 sows. Voluntary daily feed intake was higher (P < .04) for the multiparous sows fed oregano compared to the non-treated sows. In another recent study, reproductive performance was improved (P < .05) for sows supplemented with oregano essential oils during gestation and lactation.
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