Essential oil compositions and applications utilizing essential oils

A method of enhancing the health and feed efficiency of an animal, comprising:

• orally administering an essential oil composition to an animal;
• wherein the administering provides at least one of an enhanced feed efficiency, enhanced health, increased body weight, or increased weight gain rate of the animal,
• wherein the animal is at least one of poultry, horses, cows, or pigs,
• wherein the essential oil composition comprises:
• an essential oil fraction comprising at least two essential oils selected from the group consisting of thyme essential oil, oregano essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, and combinations thereof,
• an emulsifier comprising larch arabinogalactan, and
• a solid carrier selected from the group consisting of limestone, diatomaceous earth, animal feed, and combinations thereof,
• wherein the emulsifier associates with the essential oil fraction to form an essential oil emulsion in which the average droplet size is about 10 microns or less,
• wherein a ratio by weight of the emulsifier to the essential oil fraction in the essential oil emulsion is about 3:1 to about 1:3, and
• wherein the essential oil emulsion is present in an amount of about 1 wt. % to about 60 wt. % based on the total weight of the essential oil composition.