The residual black wolfberry fruit (RBWF), rich in nutrients and active substances, has the potential to serve as an antibiotic alternative. This study evaluated the concentration-dependent effects of RBWF on serum biochemistry, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of fattening sheep. Forty 3-month-old sheep were randomly assigned into four groups with 10 replicates in each group and fed experimental RBWF-supplemented diets (0%, 2%, 5%, and 8%). The results showed that RBWF supplementation significantly increased the serum levels of TP, BUN, ALT, AST, IgA, IgM, T-AOC, SOD, and GSH-Px in sheep (p < 0.05), while significantly decreasing the levels of LDH, TG, LDL-c, IgG, and MDA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, dietary RBWF significantly increased the VB1 and IMP levels in the longissimus dorsi muscle of sheep (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the contents of fat and cholesterol (p < 0.05). Finally, RBWF increased the contents of C20:4 and Glu (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with RBWF can improve the immune and antioxidant capacity of sheep and has a certain effect on improving the flavor of meat, of which 5% is the best.

Lycium ruthenicum leaves (LRL), as an agricultural by-product rich in bioactive compounds, can be used as an unconventional feedstuff in animal diets and have the potential to improve animal health. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation with graded levels of LRL on rumen fermentation, meat amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and rumen bacterial diversity in sheep. Forty three-month-old male Dorper × Hu crossbred F1 lambs with an initial body weight of 29.58 ± 2.06 kg were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10). Over a continuous 63-day trial period, the lambs were fed diets containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% LRL, respectively. At the end of the trial, rumen fluid and longissimus dorsi muscle samples were collected to assess rumen fermentation characteristics, bacterial community structure, and meat quality. The results showed that: (1) The concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) in the rumen were increased in the LRL5% group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). (2) The relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes and the genus Ruminococcus increased (p < 0.05), while the relative abundance of the genus Prevotella decreased (p < 0.05) in the LRL5% group. (3) Meat L* increased (p < 0.05), and a* decreased (p < 0.05) in the LRL-supplemented groups. (4) The content of sweet amino acids in meat increased in LRL groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the contents of non-essential amino acids, sweet amino acids, and total amino acids in meat increased linearly with increasing dietary LRL levels (p < 0.05). (5) Compared with the CON group, the content of C18:0 in meat decreased in the LRL5% group (p < 0.05), while the content of C20:1 increased in the LRL10% group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with LRL can improve meat quality, rumen fermentation, and rumen bacterial community structure in sheep. The recommended dietary inclusion level of LRL ranges from 5% to 15%.

Cotton straw, a major agricultural residue in China, is underutilized for ruminant feed owing to its recalcitrant lignin barrier, which impairs palatability and in vivo digestibil-ity. Solid-state fermentation using ligninolytic fungi provides a sustainable strategy to upgrade this lignocellulosic biomass. Nevertheless, the physiological outcomes of feeding fermented cotton straw to lactating ruminants remain largely unexplored. Herein, we investigated the effects of cotton straw fermented by Penicillium chrysogenum YL-11 on milk production, serum biochemical profiles, and ruminal microbial community composition in Saanen dairy goats, together with a biosafety assessment of the strain using a murine model. A completely randomized design was employed, involving 30 Saanen dairy goats (2–3 parities, initial body weight 48.56 ± 4.74 kg, milk yield 1.03 ± 0.27 kg/d, days in milk 180 ± 5.82 d) randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10): control (CK1, no cotton straw), CK2 (20% unfermented cotton straw), and YL-11 (20% fermented cotton straw). The trial included a 7-day adaptation and a 60-day experimental period. The results demonstrated that YL-11 administration did not adversely affect organ indices, serum biochemistry, or immune parameters in mice (p > 0.05). In dairy goats, YL-11 significantly increased average daily milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield (p < 0.01), while the feed-to-milk ratio was significantly lower than that of the CK2 group (p < 0.01), but did not differ significantly from the CK1 group. Apparent digestibility of crude protein and ash was significantly higher in the YL-11 group than in the CK2 group (p < 0.05), with no significant differences observed between the YL-11 and CK1 groups. Milk fat and lactose percentages were also increased in the YL-11 group compared with both control groups (p < 0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GSH-PX) were elevated, whereas MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 were decreased (p < 0.05). Rumen ammonia nitrogen and the acetate/propionate ratio were increased significantly (p < 0.05) and the abundance of fiber-degrading taxa, including Verrucomicrobiota was enriched in the YL-11 group, with five potential biomarkers identified by LEfSe analysis. In conclusion, P.chrysogenum YL-11 is safe and its fermented cotton straw improves lactation performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status, and fiber-degrading microbiota in dairy goats, offering a promising strategy for utilizing cotton straw as a feed resource.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the combined regulatory effects of probiotics combined with bioactive compounds on intestinal immunity and mucosal barrier function. Methods: Fifty specific-pathogen-free (SPF) male Kunming mice (5–6 weeks old, weighing 20 ± 2 g) were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10 per group): blank control (C), lipopolysaccharide-induced model (LPS), probiotic (PB), antioxidant (AO), and combined treatment (PB/AO). The C and LPS groups received daily oral gavage of 0.5 mL sterile 0.9% saline. The PB group received a daily gavage of 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL Pediococcus acidilactici lindner and Lactobacillus plantarum. The AO group was administered a daily gavage of berberine (30 mg/kg BW), wogonin (30 mg/kg BW), and sodium butyrate (200 mg/kg BW). The PB/AO group received a daily gavage combining the probiotic mixture (1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) with the plant extracts (30 mg/kg BW berberine, 30 mg/kg BW wogonin, and 200 mg/kg BW sodium butyrate). Following a 14-day preventive intervention, all groups except C were intraperitoneally injected with LPS to induce inflammation. Indices of visceral organs, serum antioxidant and immune parameters, ileal histomorphology, gut microbiota composition, and the expression of key barrier- and inflammation-related genes were comprehensively evaluated. Results: LPS exposure increased liver and spleen coefficients. PB/AO treatment significantly reduced the LPS-induced elevation of liver coefficient to a level comparable to that of the C group; however, no significant improvement in spleen coefficient was observed. In terms of antioxidant and immune indices, all intervention groups increased the levels of SOD, GSH-Px, and T-AOC to varying degrees, and decreased the levels of MDA and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and DAO), with the PB/AO group showing the most significant improvement (p < 0.01). Ileal microbiome analysis showed that PB/AO treatment enriched Firmicutes, Lactococcus and Lactobacillus but decreased Proteobacteria, with Clostridia as signature taxa. Mechanistically, PB/AO suppressed the transcription of NF-κB pathway-related genes (TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB) and upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin), thereby strengthening the intestinal barrier. Conclusions: In conclusion, co-administration of microbial probiotics and antioxidants achieves optimal protection against LPS-induced intestinal inflammation by jointly driving anti-inflammatory and antioxidative responses, modulating gut microbiota, and reinforcing barrier integrity.