Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to explore the effects of adding different concentrations of carvacrol to the diet on the growth performance,serum biochemical indexes and intestinal microbiota of mink during the breeding period,so as to find out the optimal concentration of carvacrol which was beneficial to mink in various aspects.【Method】 Forty Short-haired black mink were randomly divided into four groups of 10 minks each,with one replication for each mink.Minks in control group were fed with basal diet,while minks in groups A,B and C were supplemented with carvacrol at concentrations of 100,200 and 300 mg/kg in addition to the basic diet,respectively.The pre-test period was 7 d and the main test period was 42 d.The growth performance,serum biochemical indexes and intestinal microbiota were tested at the end of the feeding period.【Result】 The results showed that adding carvacrol had no effect on the growth performance (except for final body weight) of minks (P＞0.05).300 mg/kg carvacrol could significantly increase the activity of catalase (CAT) and crypt depth in minks (P＜0.05).100 mg/kg carvacrol could significantly increase the content of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in minks (P＜0.05).200 and 300 mg/kg carvacrol could extremely significantly reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P＜0.01),and significantly increase the jejunal villus heigth in minks (P＜0.05).High throughput sequencing results showed that a total of 9 phyla dominated by Firmicutes were detected in the bacterial community with abundance greater than 1%,and 43 genera dominated by Lactococcus and Streptococcus.【Conclusion】 The addition of 300 mg/kg carvacrol to mink feed could improve jejunal intestinal development and intestinal microbiota structure,and enhance the health status of minks.

Key words: carvacrol; minks; growth performance; serum biochemical indexes; intestinal microbiota