This study explored the impact of integrating fermented feed into the starter diet of lambs, focusing on growth, health, serum antioxidants, immune markers, rumen fermentation, and microbial communities. Thirty-six ten-day-old female Tail Han lambs were randomly divided into three experimental groups, which were separately fed with alfalfa hay (LA group), tail vegetable fermented feed (LB group), and tail vegetable fermented feed supplemented with 0.1% microbial inoculants (LC group) during the experimental period. This study assessed the influence of fermented feed on various parameters, including growth performance, fiber degradation, rumen fermentation, enzymatic activities, and ruminal histomorphology. The results indicate that compared to the control group, the addition of fermented feed can increase the daily weight gain of lambs. Simultaneously, the addition of fermented feed can enhance the total antioxidant capacity of serum (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed promoted the increased height of villi in the duodenum or jejunum of lambs (p < 0.05), and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the LB and LC groups was also improved (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed increased the richness and diversity of the rumen microbial community in lambs (p < 0.05), primarily increasing the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Lachnospiraceae, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group.

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) involves genetic, immunological, and environmental factors as well as gut microbiota dysbiosis. As a natural antioxidant with various pharmacological activities widely present in Oleaceae plants, oleuropein (OLE) exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antiviral, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects. It has been validated that OLE extracted from olive oil can ameliorate UC. However, it remains unclear if and how OLE modulates the gut microbiota in the alleviation of UC. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the mechanisms for OLE to alleviate UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), with the focus placed on its regulatory function in the gut microbiota. The results indicated that OLE mitigated DSS-induced UC by enhancing the intestinal barrier function, reshaping the gut microbiota, and modulating bile acid metabolism. The fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment results further confirmed that the protective effect of OLE against UC could be mediated by alterations in the gut microbiota and their metabolites induced by OLE. Additionally, OLE increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and certain bile acid metabolites in the colon, including hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA). HDCA could upregulate the expression of ZO-1 and claudin-3, restoring intestinal barrier integrity. Simultaneously, HDCA could inhibit the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the colon and relieve colonic inflammation. Overall, it was corroborated that OLE alleviated DSS-induced UC by modulating the gut microbiota and altering bile acid metabolism.

This study investigated the effects of incorporating fermented feed into the post-weaning piglet diet, with a focus on its impact on the growth, health, serum markers, immune function, diarrhea rate, and microbial community of post-weaning piglets. Forty-two post-weaning piglets (Duroc × [Landrace × Yorkshire], castrated male), with good health and similar weight (11.40 ± 1.36 kg) at 40 days of age, were randomly assigned to two groups. Throughout the trial, one group received a standard diet (control group) while the other one was given a diet supplemented with fermented feed (experimental group), respectively. The findings revealed that compared to the control group, the post-weaning piglets fed with fermented feed showed increased daily weight gain. The fermented feed also led to an increase in the height of villi in the duodenum or jejunum of post-weaning piglets (p < 0.05), accompanied by an improved ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the experimental group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the fermented feed enhanced the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbial community in post-weaning piglets (p < 0.05), particularly increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae. These findings demonstrate that incorporating the fermented feed into the diet can reduce the diarrhea rate, improve growth performance, enhance immune function, and promote intestinal development in post-weaning piglets.

Candida utilis (CUM) possesses various biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, intestinal microbiota regulatory, and immunomodulatory activities. However, there has been little exploration regarding the effects of CUM on ulcerative colitis (UC). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of CUM on alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in mice and to explore the potential underlying mechanisms. Here, the effect of CUM on UC was analyzed using a DSS-induced colitis mouse model (n = 9), the results of which indicated a decrease in disease activity index (DAI) in DSS-induced UC mice. Furthermore, CUM alleviated colon shortening, minimized intestinal tissue damage, and preserved intestinal tight junction proteins (Claudin-3, Occludin, and ZO-1). CUM reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), inhibited the activation of the NF-ĸB, MAPK and PPARγ signaling pathways, and decreased the level of oxidative mediators (MPO, SOD and MDA) in the colon of UC mice. Additionally, it mitigated the dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in UC mice by increasing the abundance of Prevotellaceae and Lactobacillus while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. CUM alleviated the decrease in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content in the colon of UC mice. The above results provide a scientific basis for CUM, as a natural supplement, to restore the balance of the gut inflammatory microbiota and promote gut health.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with 0.11% N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) during early pregnancy (0–90 days) on reproductive performance and fetal development, and to elucidate the underlying placental regulatory mechanisms in primiparous Hu sheep. Twenty-two 10-month-old sexually mature primiparous Hu sheep meeting the mating criteria were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group was fed a basal diet, while the NCG group received the basal diet supplemented with 0.11% NCG, with both feeding regimens maintained for 90 days. By measuring uterine and fetal growth indices, maternal plasma biochemical parameters, and amino acid levels, as well as assessing cotyledon indices and observing cotyledon morphology and histological structure, basic data related to placental function and fetal growth in pregnant ewes was collected. Combined with transcriptomic sequencing of maternal placental tissue, the mechanism by which NCG influences placental function and fetal growth and development in pregnant ewes was further investigated. The supplementation of NCG could increase the number of fetuses, total weight of fetuses, the number of corpus luteum and the ratio of fetuses to corpus luteum, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The levels of plasma NO, inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) and several amino acids were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In ewes’ uteri, the average uterine weight, number of uterine glands, total cotyledon weight, and average weight per cotyledon were significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas uterine mucosal thickness was markedly decreased. The Quantitative Real-time PCR (q-PCR) results for differentially expressed genes were consistent with those of transcriptomic analysis, showing significant changes in the expression levels of certain differentially expressed genes in maternal placental tissues. These changes regulated pathways such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–protein kinase B (PI3K–AKT) signaling pathways and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway, which are involved in angiogenesis, energy supply and metabolism, and somatic growth and development. Dietary supplementation with NCG during early pregnancy can significantly improve the reproductive performance of primiparous Hu sheep, optimize the intrauterine environment and nutrient supply, and thereby facilitate pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. The underlying mechanism may involve promoting endogenous arginine synthesis in ewes, increasing plasma levels of NO, arginine, and certain amino acids, which collectively validate the positive effects of NCG on the reproductive performance and growth of Hu sheep during early pregnancy at the molecular level.

The utilization of proper fermentation techniques is a widely recognized, efficacious approach in animal husbandry for enhancing the feed quality. However, research on vegetable waste, particularly that of roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and peels, has been rarely reported. To this end, the present study was carried out to examine the impact of vegetable leaf fermentation on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant levels, intestinal morphology, and microbial composition in sheep. Fifty-four male sheep (Oula) with an average age of 6 months and an average body weight of (21.53 ± 2.03) kg were randomly divided into three treatment groups, with six replicates each. The groups were fed with a basal diet (CON), 30% commercial fermented concentrate (CFC), and 30% vegetable leaf fermented concentrate (VFC). The results showed that compared to the CON group, both the commercial fermented concentrate and the vegetable leaf fermented concentrate improved the final weight (8.93%), average daily gain (30.67%), and dry matter intake of the sheep (1.62%). VFC increased the serum T-AOC (34.45%) and significantly increased the activities of serum and liver GSH-PX (10.95%). Meanwhile, the addition of vegetable leaf fermented concentrate increased the levels of serum IgA (63.21%), IgG (73.06%), and IgM (69.41%). VFC increased the villus height of the jejunum by 87.4% and the ileum by 185.5% and improved the villus height/crypt depth (V/C) ratio of the duodenum and ileum. CFC can also increase the villus height of the duodenum and jejunum, but has no effect on the morphology of the ileum. In addition to its other regulatory effects, VFC can further improve the richness and diversity of the rumen microbial community in sheep, with a notable enhancement in the relative abundance of key phyla, including Bacteroidetes, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Basidiomycota. At the same time, the relative abundance of Succinivibrio was reduced. It can thus be concluded that the vegetable leaf fermented concentrate improves the growth performance and intestinal health of sheep.