Utilization of oregano and salvia aromatic oils for the improvement of production and health parameters of the weaned pigs

etheric oils from salvia (Salvia officinalis L., Labiateae) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) in the pig breeding for purpose of the improvement of production parameters, health state and in order to produce the animal products more friendly to human nutrition. There were tested a) the physical and chemical parameters of etheric oils from the above mentioned plants in the laboratory of the Calendula joint-stock company (Nova Lubovna, Slovak Republic), b) the qualitative inhibition activity of the etheric oils in the microbiological laboratory in the Institute of Animal Physiology û Slovak Academy of Sciences (Kosice, Slovak Republic) against two enteropathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (K antigen positive, hemolytic) and Salmonella enterica var. Enteritidis with the following results. In the case of the salvia etheric oil the growth inhibition of E. coli was observed at the concentration 20% and S. enterica var. Enteritidis at 40%. The growth inhibition of E. coli was demonstrated at the concentration 1% and S. enterica var. Enteritidis at 20% after using of the oregano etheric oil. The both mentioned etheric oils were applied into the feed mixtures COS and A-1 and used in the experiment performed in the farming conditions. The dosage of the etheric oils was as follows: 1st experimental group û the salvia etheric oil 90 ml/100 kg feed mixture, 2nd experimental group û the oregano etheric oil 35 ml/100 kg feed mixture, control group û etheric oil in the feed mixture was absent. The amounts depended on the results achieved in the microbiological tests and the performed tests of the palatability. The achieved results of the comparison of two experimental groups on one hand and one control group on the other hand in the experimental period from 32nd to 77th day of age of experimental pigs: lower number of diarrheic days by 22.23% (2nd experimental group), lower number of the injection application of antibiotics by 14.31% (1st experimental group) and 78.58% (2nd experimental group), respectively. Lower mortality of the pigs by 70.82% (2nd experimental group), higher weight gains by 11.25% (1st experimental group) and by 102.19% (2nd experimental group), respectively. The both mentioned etheric oils have significant influence on the improvement of production parameters, prevention of diarrheic diseases and mortality decrease of the weaned pigs in the experimental groups.