Maize silage has a significant environmental impact on livestock due to its high requirement for fertilizer and water. Mulberry has the potential to replace much of the large amount of maize silage grown in China, but its feeding value in the conserved form needs to be evaluated. We fed Hu lambs diets with 20–60% of the maize silage replaced by mulberry silage, adjusting the soybean meal content when increasing the mulberry silage inclusion rate in an attempt to balance the crude protein content of the diets. Mulberry silage had higher crude protein and lower acidic and neutral detergent fiber contents compared to maize silage. Replacing maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage had no effect on the feed intake and growth rate of Hu lambs. However, the rumen pH increased, the acetate to propionate in rumen fluid increased, and the rumen ammonia concentration decreased as mulberry replaced maize silage and soyabean meal. This was associated with an increase in norank_f__F082 bacteria in the rumen. Rumen papillae were shorter when mulberry silage replaced maize silage, which may reflect the reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the original silage. In conclusion, mulberry silage can successfully replace maize silage and soyabeans in the diet of Hu lambs without loss of production potential, which could have significant environmental benefits.

Maize silage has a high demand for fertilizer and water. As an unconventional feed resource, mulberry silage has the potential to replace most maize silage and to alleviate the shortage of roughage in the mutton sheep industry in China. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of the replacement of maize silage and soyabean meal with mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, slaughter performance, and meat quality. Ninety-six healthy Hu lambs were randomly divided into four groups with six replicates per group and four lambs per replicate. The amounts of 0, 20, 40, and 60% of maize silage were replaced by mulberry silage in each group (denoted as CON, L, M, and H, respectively). The results showed that replacing maize silage with mulberry silage had no significant effect on the growth performance or the slaughter performance of Hu lambs (p > 0.05). Feeding Hu lambs with mulberry silage significantly reduced serum glucose (GLU) and the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content (p < 0.05), and it increased the content of ether extract (EE) in the longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the percentage of EAA in the M and H groups was significantly lower than that in the CON and L groups (p < 0.05). In addition, in the fatty acid profile, the percentage of C16:1 in the M group was significantly increased, while the percentage of C18:0 and C20:0 were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, it was recommended that 20–40% of maize silage be replaced by mulberry silage in the diet of Hu lambs.

This study aimed to assess the effects of feeding with different forage sources and starter concentrations on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and the microbial community in weaned Holstein calves. A total of 54 Holstein calves (body weight (BW) = 77.50 ± 5.07 kg; age = 70 ± 2.54 days) were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups (n = 18/group) that were offered diets with different forages: (1) peanut vine (PV), (2) oat hay (OH), or (3) an alfalfa hay + oat hay combination (alfalfa hay:oat hay =1:1, AO). Starter and forage intakes were recorded daily, while BW and growth parameters were assessed at 15-day intervals. The apparent digestibility of nutrients was determined. Ruminal fluid samples were collected and used to detect relevant indicators. A difference was observed for the forage × age interaction for all feed, nutrient intake, BW, ADG, and body structure parameters (P < 0.05). The final BW, average daily feed intake (ADFI), and average daily gain of the PV calves were higher than those of calves from the other groups (P < 0.05). The ruminal propionate concentration evidently increased in calves of the AO group (P < 0.05). The abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Shuttleworthia showed distinct responses to feeding with different forages (P < 0.05) at the genus level. The relative abundance of Shuttleworthia was negatively related to rumen pH and acid detergent fiber digestibility (P < 0.05) and strongly positively related to propionate concentration (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between Ruminococcus_1 abundance and butyrate concentration and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Succiniclasticum and Prevotella_7 were negatively related to butyrate concentration (P < 0.05). In conclusion, there was an interaction between the factors (forage × age). The peanut vine used as a forage source promoted a higher starter concentrate intake compared to other diets and increased with the calves' age. The growth performance and rumen bacterial community of the calves were further improved. These results indicate that peanut vine can be used as the main source of forage in the diets of weaned calves.

Mastitis is one of the most common diseases in dairy farms. During the perinatal period, the bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) of High-yielding dairy cows accelerate metabolism and produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is one of the primary causes of mastitis and will lead to the breakdown of redox balance, which will induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Baicalin is a flavonoid substance extracted from the root of natural plant Scutellaria baicalensis, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and other biological functions. In this research, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used to construct a mastitis oxidative stress model, and relevant mechanisms were analyzed by immunofluorescence techniques, qRT-PCR and Western Blot to explore how baicalin affects BMECs' oxidative stress and inflammation caused by H₂O₂, as well as to provide new perspectives on the combined application of baicalin in the prevention and treatment of mastitis. The results demonstrated that baicalin treatment could reduce the accumulation of H₂O₂-induced intracellular ROS and decrease the expression of inflammatory cytokines Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the apoptosis rate. The inhibitory effect of baicalin on H₂O₂-induced intracellular ROS accumulation and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic factors in BMECs was blocked by pretreatment with the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor retinoic acid (RA) prior to H₂O₂ and/or baicalin treatment. In summary, baicalin could served as a natural antioxidant agent to regulate cell apoptosis through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects to combat BMECs damage caused by H₂O₂.

This study systematically investigated the effects of tea polyphenols on methane (CH₄) production and the rumen epithelial cell transport capability in cattle using both in vitro and animal experiments, employing multi-omics techniques. The in vitro results demonstrated that, compared to the control group, tea polyphenols significantly reduced CH₄ production and the acetate/propionate ratio (p < 0.05). Tea polyphenols reduced CH₄ production by inhibiting the relative abundance of unclassified_d_Archaea methanogens and the protozoa Pseudoentodinium and g__Balantioides. The animal experiments showed that tea polyphenols significantly increased the concentrations of T-AOC and GSH-PX in bovine blood (p < 0.05). In addition, microbial groups such as Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, and Butyrivibrio_2 were significantly enriched in the ruminal fluid of the tea polyphenol group (p < 0.05). The proteomic results indicated significant upregulation of proteins such as COIII, S100A8, FABP1, SLC2A8, and SLC29A1 (p < 0.05) and downregulation of proteins including HBB, RAB4A, RBP4, LOC107131172, HBA, and ZFYVE19 (p < 0.05), with FABP1 showing a positive correlation with propionate concentration, and RAB4A had a negative correlation (p < 0.05). Overall, tea polyphenols modulate the microbial composition within the rumen, inhibiting CH₄ production and enhancing the host’s rumen epithelial cell transport capacity for volatile fatty acids.

Neonatal calves’ diarrhea, which can be severe enough to cause death, has a significant impact on the global cattle industry. In this study, alfalfa polysaccharides and seaweed polysaccharides were found to significantly improve the diarrhea condition in neonatal calves. To explore the underlying mechanisms, further microbiomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted. This study investigated the impact of alfalfa polysaccharides and seaweed polysaccharides on growth performance, serum metabolites, gut microbiota, and metabolomics in neonatal Holstein calves. A total of 24 newborn calves were randomly assigned to three groups, with 8 calves per treatment group. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, the alfalfa polysaccharide (AP) group received a basal diet supplemented with alfalfa polysaccharides (4 g/calf/day), and the seaweed polysaccharide group (SP) received a basal diet supplemented with seaweed polysaccharides (4 g/calf/day). These polysaccharides were plant extracts. Compared to the CON group, the results indicated that SP significantly enhanced the body weight, height, chest circumference, and average daily gain of Holstein calves (p < 0.05), while also reducing the diarrhea rate and improving manure scoring (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON, AP also reduced the diarrhea rate (p < 0.05). In terms of serum biochemistry, supplementation with AP and SP increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Both AP and SP elevated serum catalase (CAT) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (T-AOC) levels, indicating enhanced antioxidant status (p < 0.05). Regarding immune responses, supplementation with AP and SP significantly increased serum complement component 3 (C3) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, while significantly reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Microbiota analysis revealed that AP modulated the abundance of Firmicutes, while SP influenced the abundance of Prevotella and Succiniclasticum. AP and SP differentially influenced intestinal metabolites compared to the CON group, leading to enrichment in pathways related to immunity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory functions. These pathways included the biosynthesis of alkaloids from ornithine, lysine, and nicotinic acid, glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor canothersis/antagonists, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and alkaloid biosynthesis from histidine and purine, thus alleviating intestinal inflammation. Therefore, by supplementing with AP and SP, the diarrhea rate in calves was reduced, and the immune function of Holstein calves was enhanced, while simultaneously promoting a higher relative abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and suppressing the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, gut pathways associated with immune response and inflammation were modulated by AP and SP. This study provided valuable insights and theoretical underpinnings for the use of AP and SP in preventing diarrhea in neonatal calves.