For years, antibiotics were the default solution for keeping livestock healthy and productive. But between stricter regulations and growing concern about resistance, farmers and nutritionists are looking for something better. Two plant compounds — α-terpineol and 1,8-cineole — might be part of the answer. Recent work suggests they can reduce inflammation and support gut health in growing meat rabbits without the downsides of antibiotics. Why gut health matters in rabbit farming Two things tend to go wrong in intensive rabbit production: chronic low-grade inflammation and an imbalanced gut microbiome. When the intestinal barrier weakens — what some people call “leaky gut” — bacterial toxins and metabolic byproducts leak into the…