Butyrate supplementation has gained considerable attention for its potential benefits in livestock, particularly concerning intestinal health and growth performance. This review synthesizes recent research on the diverse roles of butyrate, across various livestock species. As a short-chain fatty acid, butyrate is known for enhancing intestinal development, improving immune function, and modulating microbial diversity. Studies indicate that butyrate supports gut barrier integrity, reduces inflammation, and optimizes feed efficiency, especially during the critical weaning and post-weaning periods in calves, piglets, and lambs. Supplementation with butyrate in livestock has been shown to increase average daily gain (ADG), improve gut microbiota balance, promote growth, enhance gut health, boost antioxidant capacity, and reduce diarrhea. Additionally, butyrate plays a role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression through histone acetylation, influencing tissue development and immune modulation. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have been demonstrated across various species, positioning butyrate as a potential therapeutic agent in animal nutrition. This review suggests that optimizing butyrate supplementation strategies to meet the specific needs of each species may yield additional benefits, establishing butyrate as an important dietary additive for enhancing growth performance and health in livestock.

Microorganisms in the rumen play a crucial role in determining the most efficient utilization rate of nutrients. Among these microorganisms, Prevotella stands out as one of the most representative bacteria within the rumen biological system. Prevotella is a common strict anaerobic bacterium that is found in the gastrointestinal tract of livestock. Prevotella plays a crucial role in breaking down and metabolizing complex nutrients like cellulose and protein during food digestion. Moreover, it is capable of working together with other bacteria in the body’s digestive system. Several studies have shown a strong correlation between the abundance of Prevotella and livestock growth performance. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research on the function, mechanisms, and applications of Prevotella in the gastrointestinal tract. The insights provided in this review could serve as a theoretical basis for accurately classifying Prevotella, further investigating its effects and potential mechanisms on livestock growth performance, and exploring its practical applications.

Mastitis is a significant inflammatory condition of the mammary gland in dairy cows. It is caused by bacterial infections and leads to substantial economic losses worldwide. The disease can be either clinical or sub-clinical and presents challenges such as reduced milk yield, increased treatment costs, and the need to cull affected cows. The pathogenic mechanisms of mastitis involve the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), specifically TLR2 and TLR4. These receptors play crucial roles in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiating immune responses through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Recent in vitro studies have emphasized the importance of the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in the development of mastitis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target. This review summarizes recent research on the role of the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in mastitis. It focuses on how the activation of TLRs leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which, in turn, exacerbate the inflammatory response by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in mammary gland tissues. Additionally, the review discusses various bioactive compounds and probiotics that have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for preventing and treating mastitis by targeting TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, this review highlights the significance of targeting the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to develop effective therapeutic strategies against mastitis, which can enhance dairy cow health and reduce economic losses in the dairy industry.

Probiotic-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are functional nanovesicles secreted by various microbiota. As a novel class of microbial signals, they encapsulate proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and microbial-associated molecular patterns, emerging as potent modulators of communication between gut microbiota and host immune cells, such as macrophages. Macrophages, as a crucial component of the innate immune system, rely heavily on specific metabolic reprogramming to execute their immune functions effectively. Recent evidence demonstrates the pivotal role of macrophage immunometabolism in orchestrating inflammatory responses and regulating systemic metabolic health. This review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of current evidence linking PEVs to the function and metabolic reprogramming of macrophages. We first conducted a detailed exploration of the release rationale, biosynthesis, composition, uptake by macrophages, and biological activity of PEVs. Subsequently, we elucidated how these vesicles and their cargo influence macrophage polarization through several metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), fatty acid oxidation (FAO), and amino acid metabolism. We further explore the implications of macrophage immunometabolism in chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neurodegenerative diseases, and atherosclerosis. Additionally, emerging evidence indicates that PEVs may be influenced by various factors, which in turn can affect host immunity and metabolism. Finally, we briefly discuss the limitations and future challenges in this field. This review highlights new research targets concerning the impact of gut microbiota on host immunity and metabolism.

The growing interest in functional foods has directed scientific attention toward alternative milk sources, particularly camel and donkey milk, which have been traditionally consumed for their purported health benefits across diverse cultures. These milk sources possess unique nutritional profiles and bioactive compositions that differ substantially from conventional bovine milk. This review examines the current scientific understanding of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactivities of camel and donkey milk, exploring their bioactive constituents and therapeutic potential. Camel and donkey milk demonstrate notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may exceed those of conventional milk sources. Key bioactive compounds include lactoferrin, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, bioactive peptides, vitamins C and E, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Mechanistic studies reveal that milk from donkeys and camels suppresses inflammatory pathways through NF-κB inhibition, cytokine modulation (reducing IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α while enhancing IL-10), and antioxidant pathway activation via Nrf2-ARE signaling. Donkey milk exhibits particularly high lysozyme content and demonstrates significant immunomodulatory effects, while camel milk shows remarkable therapeutic potential in diabetes management, nephroprotection, and hepatoprotection. Preclinical studies demonstrate efficacy in treating oxidative stress-related disorders, inflammatory conditions, metabolic dysfunction, and tissue injury models. Altogether, the published data show that camel and donkey milk represent promising functional foods with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities mediated through multiple molecular pathways. Their unique bioactive profiles offer therapeutic potential for various health conditions, warranting further clinical investigation and development as nutraceutical interventions.

Mastitis represents one of the most economically devastating diseases in dairy production, causing billions of dollars in annual losses through reduced milk quality and quantity. Recent advances in microbiome research have unveiled a critical gut–mammary axis that fundamentally influences mastitis susceptibility and pathogenesis in dairy cattle. Through comprehensive analysis of microbial communities across multiple anatomical sites, we demonstrate that mastitis development involves systematic disruption of both mammary and gastrointestinal microbiomes, characterized by reduced beneficial bacterial populations and increased pathogenic species. Healthy animals maintain balanced microbial ecosystems dominated by protective taxa including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and beneficial Lactobacillus species, while mastitis-affected animals exhibit dysbiotic shifts toward Proteobacteria dominance, elevated Streptococcus and Staphylococcus populations, and compromised microbial diversity. Mechanistic investigations reveal that gut microbiota disruption compromises systemic immune competence, alters metabolite production including short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, and influences inflammatory mediators that circulate to mammary tissue. Therapeutic interventions targeting this axis, including probiotics, prebiotics, and plant-derived compounds, demonstrate significant efficacy in restoring microbiome homeostasis and reducing mastitis severity. These findings establish the gut–mammary axis as a fundamental regulatory mechanism in mastitis pathogenesis, opening new avenues for microbiome-based prevention and treatment strategies that could significantly enhance dairy health management while addressing antimicrobial resistance concerns.