Use of Medicinal Plants with Galactogenic Effect, as a Food Supplement, in Order to Increase Milk Production, in Dairy Animals: A Review

Abstract

Raising animals at the household level occupies an important place in the rural economy, providing families with a relatively constant income and a source of food. The demand for organic products of animal origin, the prohibition or limitation use of medicinal substances for various treatments and and the search for alternatives to feed additives, are the key factors that determine the pursuit for natural solutions to increase milk production. Herbal spices can influence the way animals are fed and ultimately have the beneficial effect of stimulating the level of secretory tissue of the mammary gland, which would result in an improvement in milk production. The paper aims to contribute to the review of various studies on galactogenic plants with effect on milk production. The study considered the follow-up of research published in the last few years. Galactogenic plants have triggered a special interest because of their availability, low cost and no toxic residues left in milk. Phyto-pharmacological research on medicinal plants can contribute to the discovery of some new ways of using galactogenic plants in the diet of dairy animals. Following the bibliographic study carried out in the paper, it was established that there are several milk-producing species that can be fed galactogenic effect plants (cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes) and there are a series of medicinal plants more common in making feed mixtures in order to stimulate the growth of milk production (Asparagus racemosus, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Cuminum cyminum, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa). Researches about natural alternatives to increase milk production in dairy animals is still limited. It is necessary to carry out further studies about plants with a galactogenic effect on the physiology of milk production in livestock species.