Effect of thymol on the efficiency of feed utilization and compensatory growth in severe feed-restricted lambs

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of thymol on growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients in severely feed-restricted lambs. Twenty-one male Baluchi lambs were randomly blocked by live weight into three groups: control without feed restriction (CON), feed restricted (FR), and feed restricted plus thymol (FR + T). The lambs underwent a four-week feed restriction period followed by four weeks of realimentation. Thymol was administered daily to the FR + T group during the feed restriction period. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, feed efficiency (FE), partial efficiency of maintenance (PEM), and residual feed intake (RFI) were measured as growth performance parameters. Results showed that the severe feed restriction had adverse effects on ADG and FE, but improved PEM (P < 0.05). The effects of thymol administration on ADG, FE, PEM, and apparent total tract digestibility were not significant (P > 0.05). However, the lambs that received thymol during the feed restriction period showed a negative RFI during realimentation (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that feed restriction as well as thymol may have the potential to improve efficiency of feed utilization in growing lambs. However, this positive effect is independent of the improvement in nutrient digestibility.