Hello Essential Oils and Goodbye Ionophores?
by Jacob Klaudt, Kansas State University Extension
Negative public perception and increasing governmental regulations have researchers seeking alternatives to antibiotic use in livestock. Ionophores — an antibiotic that alters rumen microbial populations to increase efficiency — have been temporarily banned in some countries.
If this occurs in the US, Kansas State University beef systems specialist Jaymelynn Farney said other feed supplements need to be evaluated to maintain current production levels. In response to this change in animal husbandry, Farney and her team at the Southeast Agricultural Research Center in Parsons have started examining whether essential oils make a satisfactory substitute for ionophores.
“Some essential oils have similar ruminal effects as ionophores and impacts on feed efficiency, volatile fatty acid production, and other efficiency areas,” she said. “We were interested in looking at this in stocker cattle because most of the work has been in feedlots or in vitro.”
Farney used 281 head of black-hided steers split into eight pastures. Four groups received free-choice mineral infused with essential oils, and the others infused with ionophores. “We found that they performed essentially the same,” she said. “We had a 2.15-pound average daily gain for ionophores and a 2.13-pound average daily gain for essential oils over 90 days.”
She added: “The cattle fed ionophores gained 204 pounds total, and the essential oils group put on 203 pounds. Also, both groups had a very similar intake of mineral.”
While metrics like mineral consumption were comparable, the actual cost of the two supplements differed. Farney said the price of Solus — the brand of essential oil examined — calculated to $13.09 per unit, while the ionophores cost $14.34.
“We fed a garlic oil product plus the Solus, a proprietary blend of ingredients,” Farney said. “When you open the mineral bag, you smell cinnamon, oregano, lemongrass, and capsaicin.”
Outside of determining differences in performance, Farney has also set out to observe changes in functional behavior through GPS ear tags. Researchers noted no differences in the amount of time eating, resting, walking, and ruminating. Yet, they saw a trend in slightly elevated heart rates in the animals fed essential oils.
“This was intriguing because many essential oils have been identified and marketed as vasodilators, or substances that allow for easier blood flow,” Farney said. “We’re not sure yet if that means anything to performance, but it was cool to see.”
This study will be conducted annually for four more years as a part of an overarching research project, said Farney. After her team collects the data and comes to conclusions, she hopes their results open a natural marketing avenue for producers.
“One of the big downsides of natural and organic systems is that ranchers have to get paid a significant premium because cattle do not gain as well as without antibiotics [ionophores],” she said. “If you can increase gain and feed a product like an essential oil that could be certified through those marketing schemes, you might get the best of both worlds.”
How a Kansas State Researcher Cracked the Code of Cattle Pain Relief
Kansas State University
No words are needed in the language of pain. “Ow” and “ah” are universally understood, as are a yelp or a cry. A grimace or a rubbed hand over a sore spot or ache convey a similar message.
But like any language, the expression and understanding of pain is a learned form of communication — one that’s especially difficult to pick up across species. For farm animals, though, Hans Coetzee has cracked the code.
Coetzee, distinguished professor of animal welfare in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has dedicated much of his career to assessing and relieving pain in livestock species. His work has been instrumental in clearing the way for the first regulatory approval of livestock analgesics, or pain relief medicine, that have eased the pain of millions of animals.
For these contributions, the National Academy of Sciences has awarded Coetzee the 2025 Prize in Food and Agriculture Science — an award that recognizes research by a mid-career scientist at a US institution who has made an extraordinary contribution to agriculture or to the understanding of the biology of a species fundamentally important to agriculture or food production.
“Through his innovative work, Coetzee has not only advanced scientific understanding but also delivered creative yet implementable solutions to complex challenges that benefit animals, livestock producers, and society,” the prize citation states. By bridging the gap between basic science and practical application, he has fostered collaboration with policymakers and industry stakeholders and inspired the next generation of researchers.”
Coetzee will be formally honored at a ceremony in April at the National Academy of Sciences’ annual meeting in Washington, D.C., where he will also receive a medal and a $100,000 award as part of the prize’s endowment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
“I feel incredibly blessed and honored to have the opportunity to do this work,” Coetzee shared. “I never expected it would lead to this recognition. I am especially thankful for the tremendous support from my family, K-State and the many colleagues, students, and livestock producers who have collaborated with us.”
Coetzee has been previously recognized for his efforts to improve animal welfare. He received the 2017 Animal Welfare Award by the American Veterinary Medical Association and the World Veterinary Association’s Global Animal Welfare Award, also in 2017.
He also received Ruminant Well-being Awards at the World Buiatrics Congress in 2018, and in 2022, the K-State Alumni Association awarded Coetzee its Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research.
University of Illinois Partnership Helps Solve Critical Need to Develop Food Animal Veterinarians
by Lauren Quinn, Bovine Veterinarian
A new program at the University of Illinois College of ACES allows animal science majors to gain early acceptance at Vet Med if they maintain a 3.5 GPA, complete livestock-related courses and experiences, and plan to become food animal veterinarians.
“It’s more important than ever for highly trained veterinarians to keep livestock herds safe and healthy. It’s a critical need for the livestock industry. This is one way we can help support students with that interest, and we’re really excited about it,” said Anna Dilger, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois.
Rather than applying to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Illinois during the fall of their senior year, students with a demonstrated interest in food animal care can apply to the new early acceptance program in the spring of their sophomore year. Dilger says early acceptance allows students to focus on completing their undergraduate degrees with less stress and more attention to courses that will prepare them for the livestock industry.
“The classes our students take in their junior and senior years — like beef production and livestock feeds and feeding — are really designed to make them better practitioners in the context of food animal production,” Dilger said. “They’re not going to get that type of training in vet school, but they will be better prepared as future veterinarians for the workforce.”
A handful of other veterinary schools across the country offer early acceptance to enrolled undergraduates, but few focus on food animals. “The veterinary profession has identified the need for more practitioners in the food animal and mixed animal fields, especially in rural areas,” said Sara Connolly, assistant dean for admissions and student success at Vet Med. “There are currently more than 12 times the number of veterinarians practicing in companion animal medicine than in food animal or mixed practice. We hope the early admissions program will help address this need, particularly in Illinois, by encouraging future veterinarians with a food animal interest.”
Dan Shike, interim department head for animal sciences, hopes the program will entice new and existing students to pursue careers in food animal medicine. “We’d love for this to attract prospective students to our department. Students come to us knowing they want to work with animals, but not many of them realize that food animal medicine is an interest at first,” he said. “Our curriculum develops that interest over time. After three semesters, when it’s time to apply for this program, they might realize it could be a great career opportunity.”