Cattle producers can profit from use of important oils

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Essential oils are often used for therapeutic purposes in humans. Now they are used with cattle.

New research shows that essential oils can have a positive effect on overall profit and on fly and tick control.

Jaymelynn Farney, an extension specialist at K-State, said the oil is not applied topically but is mixed into forage.

“We mix it with some of their daily vitamins and minerals,” Farney said, “but what I’ve found more consistently is an improvement in the profit for our cattle on grass fed these essential oils. Somewhere between 0.08 to almost a quarter pound improvement in average daily gain. “

Farney said there is still research on tick and fly control.

“When it comes to fly population, I don’t see a really consistent result in the products I look at in terms of the ability to control them,” Farney said.

Cattle essential oil products are currently on the market. Farney said using essential oils in the cattle industry to increase growth efficiency could be a small step in making an impact on gas emissions and overall sustainability.

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