Essential Oils in Swine: Tackling Health Challenges
- Ralco Agriculture
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
Updated: May 6
The swine industry is constantly evolving, seeking better ways to improve animal health, enhance performance and address challenges. Over the past 20 years, essential oils have become a trusted tool in this evolution, delivering proven benefits for swine health.
But how and why did these powerful oils become a cornerstone of modern agriculture? Let’s take a closer look at their intriguing history, integration into livestock production and the advanced essential oil technologies shaping the future of swine health.
A Brief History of Essential Oils
Long before essential oils became a tool in animal agriculture, they played an important role in human health, beauty and medicine. Their story stretches back thousands of years, shaped by ancient cultures and early innovators.
From Ancient Egypt to European Monasteries Dating back to 4500 BC, the Egyptians were pioneers in extracting and using plant oils for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Cleopatra, renowned for her beauty, was a trailblazer in the use of essential oils, incorporating rose and orange blossom into her baths, perfumes and skincare routines.
Fast forward to the 1400s in Europe, essential oils were used as part of aromatherapy and folk medicine. Monasteries and herbalists cultivated aromatic plants to treat infections, ward off disease like the plague and create perfumes. Their knowledge laid the groundwork for the essential oil applications we see today.
Modern Use in Humans In 1928, the term “aromatherapy” was introduced by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé after discovering lavender essential oil’s healing properties for burns. After suffering a severe burn in a lab explosion, he instinctively plunged his hand into a container of lavender essential oil. To his surprise, the burn healed rapidly with minimal scarring and far better than expected. This experience led him to investigate the medicinal potential of essential oils, particularly their antimicrobial and skin-healing properties.
By the late 20th century, researchers like Daniel Pénoël and Pierre Franchomme had identified the medical properties of over 270 essential oils, paving the way for their integration in modern uses. Today, essential oils are recognized for their antimicrobial and stress-relieving benefits, blending ancient insight with modern science.
Livestock and Poultry In recent years, essential oils have gained traction in animal agriculture as an alternative to antibiotics. Following the European Union’s (EU) 2006 ban on antibiotics as growth promoters, essential oils became a popular option for promoting health and performance in livestock. For example, oregano oil has been widely used in the EU to support gut health and reduce harmful pathogens in poultry, proving to be an effective natural alternative. This success in Europe laid the groundwork for broader use in the agriculture industry.
Ralco’s Early Adoption
Ralco’s exploration of herbs and essential oils began in the late 1990s in swine, driven by a mission to find innovative, natural solutions for herd health. Early research revealed the potential of essential oils to enhance performance, support intestinal function and address health challenges. By 2005, Ralco collaborated with the University of Minnesota on a groundbreaking study that highlighted the power of oregano-based essential oils. The study found that oregano oils increased piglet performance, enhanced colostrum quality and improved sow productivity, solidifying essential oils as a valuable tool in advancing swine health.
Why Essential Oils in Swine?
The swine industry faces unique health challenges, many of which can be addressed by using essential oils.
1. Health Benefits Essential oils have antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. They help maintain homeostasis, support nutrient absorption and enhance gut health which all crucial for overall swine health.
2. Regulatory Changes The widespread use of antibiotics in animal agriculture has contributed to the rise of resistant pathogens, diminishing their effectiveness in both livestock and humans, and threatening global health and food supplies. Essential oils offer a powerful, natural alternative with antimicrobial properties that support livestock health while safeguarding human health.
3.Growth and Efficiency Essential oils offer more than just antimicrobial benefits. By boosting the immune system and supporting gut health, they help pigs grow faster, stay healthier and improve overall profitability for producers.
Common Essential Oils in Swine
Some of the most common essential oils used in swine production are oregano, cinnamon, thyme, clove, rosemary and capsicum. These powerhouse oils are packed with antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that support animal health and performance.
However, swine health challenges aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and neither are essential oils. While these "big six" are highly effective in swine, Ralco takes essential oil technology a step further.
By leveraging years of research and an extensive database of essential oils and their respective activity, Ralco went beyond oregano, cinnamon, thyme, clove and rosemary and studied 100’s of essential oils and their unique properties to create blends specifically designed to address unique challenges in swine production. This targeted approach ensures every formulation delivers maximum effectiveness and consistent results.
Proven Benefits of Essential Oils in Swine
The gastrointestinal tract is the largest immune organ in pigs, home to 70% of the immune system. Essential oils help improve gut health, allowing pigs to allocate more energy to growth and production instead of fighting challenges.
Case Study Success Ralco has partnered with leading universities, third-party research facilities and clients to rigorously test and validate the performance of essential oils in swine production. These collaborative efforts consistently deliver compelling results, reinforcing the effectiveness and reliability of essential oils when formulated correctly.
1. Reducing Bacterial Challenges In a farm marketing 185,000 pigs annually, persistent E. coli outbreaks were eliminated by adding essential oils to the nursery feed. This success also allowed the farm to replace its vaccination protocol, streamlining operations.
2. Addressing Viral Challenges In a study of 2,650 sows, diets supplemented with essential oils maintained reproductive performance even during a PRRS outbreak. This demonstrates how essential oils support health in the face of viral challenges.
3. Enhancing Grow-Finish Performance A field trial involving 12,000 finishing pigs showed that those fed a diet containing essential oils achieved an average of 6.9 pounds more market weight and a 0.11 improvement in feed conversion compared to control groups.
4. Boosting Reproductive Success In five independent trials, sows fed essential oil-supplemented diets weaned an average of 0.4 additional pigs per litter. A 7,000-sow field demonstration also showed a remarkable increase of 1.0 additional weaned pigs per sow.
5. Reducing Mortality in Pigs In two independent studies involving PRRS-positive E. coli-vaccinated nursery pigs, administering essential oils through water reduced mortality levels by 33% and 55% across the trials. This highlights the effectiveness of essential oils in mitigating challenges and reducing mortality.
How to Use Essential Oils in Swine
Essential oils can be administered through feed or water, making them easy to integrate into existing management systems. This flexibility ensures swine producers can efficiently support their herds’ health.
The Future of Essential Oils in Swine
Essential oils have come a long way, from ancient uses to proven tools in modern livestock production. At Ralco, we’re building on that progress with targeted, science-backed technologies that help pigs stay healthy and productive, even under pressure.
