Transmission of Herb Essential Oil to Milk and Change of Milk Flavor by Feeding Dried Herbs to Lactating Holstein Cows

Abstract

The mixture of cinnamon and basil (Mixture 1) and that of rosemary and caraway (Mixture 2) were prepared and fed for Holstein cows in two period. Cinnamic aldehyde (0.6ppb) and dcalbone (0.5ppb) were found in the milk from the cows fed Mixture 1 and Mixture 2 in the period 1. In the period 2 both essential oil contents were under the limitation of the analysis. Milk from the cow fed Mixture 1 had less milk smell than that from the cows fed the basal diet in the period 1. These results showed the possibility that herb essential oil could be passed to milk and milk flavor could be controlled by feeding dried herb to dairy cows.