The purpose of the present work was to study potential benefits of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seed extract (CSE) on milk fatty acid profile and methane emission in lactating goat. Eighteen lactating goats were assigned to three following dietary treatment groups: basal diet (control; C0); control plus 1 g/L of rumen volume (1.27% of dry matter intake; DMI) CSE (C1); control plus 2 g/L of rumen volume (2.53% DMI) CSE (C2). Basal diet consisted of forage and concentrate at equal ratio. Addition of CSE enhanced milk production by 13% in lower supplemented group (P < 0.05). CSE supplementation had no effect on milk fat, protein and lactose percentage, however, C18:3-n3, C18:2n-6c, C18:1 trans-11, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids content of milk increased (P < 0.05) significantly when additive was used at both levels. The cis-9 trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) increased by 20% in goat milk receiving the CSE supplemented diet (P < 0.0001). Delta-9-desaturase index in CSE added groups was significantly higher in comparison to control (P = 0.001). In addition, goats which were fed with 1 g/L CSE produced milk with higher recovery of linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA) (P < 0.001). Methane production reduced (P < 0.01) in goats treated with CSE, however the difference between supplemented groups was not significant. It was concluded that the CSE had the potential to enhance CLA and PUFA content of milk and mitigate methane emission in lactating goat. Further investigations are necessary to assess the mode of action of cumin in the rumen and to explore the effect of cumin on delta-9 desaturase enzyme activity and methane mitigation.

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