Resumen:
This preface outlines the reasons for undertaking the special issue, comments on the review process and provides a brief summary of the papers included. It also discusses some of the currently used, and potential, plant based bioactive compounds in ruminant agriculture and their applications in promoting animal growth, mitigating enteric methane emissions as well as possible applications as antiparasite agents. The final section provides a brief comment on future perspectives for use of plant based bioactive compounds in ruminant agriculture.