Effect of Fish Oil and Thyme Essence on Fattening Performance and Carcass Traits of Mahabadi Kids

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of fish oil long-chain fatty acids and thyme essence supplementation on performance and carcass traits in Mahabadi goat kids. Twenty-eight Mahabadi goat kids (average initial BW of 17/8 ± 2/8 kg، 4-5mo) were randomly assigned to four treatments of: 1. control (basal diet)، 2. 0. 2% thyme essence، 3. 2% fish oil، and 4. 2% fish oil +0. 2% thyme essence addition to the basal diet. Animals were kept in individual pens with self-mangers for 84d. The kids were weighed at 21 day intervals and finally slaughtered at the end of the trial. Dry matter intake، average daily gain and feed conversion ratios were not found affected by fish oil and thyme essence. Addition of 2% fish oil increased fat depth on the 12th rib (P<0. 05). Dressing percentage، eye muscle area، carcass length، liver and kidney weight، abdominal and kidney fat were not affected by the treatments (P>0. 05). Percentages or weights of ribs، dissected muscle، fat and bone، and as well، the percentages of wholesale cuts of the carcass were not affected by fish oil and thyme essence additions (P> 0. 05). The results finally indicated that supplementation of goat kids’ diets with fish oil and thyme essence did not influence carcass traits and growth performance but، back fat thickness increased through fish oil supplementation.